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MY PLACE IN THE SHADE 

AND 

VARIOUS VERSE 



BY 

THEODORE SHARPE 




BOSTON 
RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



CopmiQHT, 1920, BY Theodore Shaepe 



All Rights Reserved 



Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 

©C.U561666 
/v\ c I 






TO MY MOTHER 

A Citizen of the Country of Life 

whose life of simple faith has been 

the inspiration of many of 

these verses 

TO MY FATHER 

A Citizen of the Country of Canada 

whose long life of honest toil has taught me 

in my noonday years the beauty 

and dignity of labor 

This volume of verse is most affectionately 
dedicated 



EXPLANATION 

The author of these verses makes no pretence to 
pose as a poet, nor does he possess the audacity to 
designate these pages as poetry. The "highbrows" 
of poetry will find much to criticize and little to 
commend. Many of these verses have been given 
to the public and have been gladly welcomed by the 
common people who have expressed themselves that 
they have been helped by their reading. Now the 
author's philosophy of literature is the expression of 
helpfulness in simplicity of language. This is why 
another volume of verse is sent forth to run the 
gauntlet of the watchdogs and guardians of poesy. 

Many readers will detect at once the spirit of 
preachment tagged to these verses. The author 
pleads guilty to the deliberate purpose of moraliz- 
ing. May they survive the cudgels of the critic 
and scatter broadcast to the uttermost parts of the 
earth. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 



My Place in the Shade 13 

If I Were God 14 

The Old Pack Horse 17 

My Fairest Scene 20 

He That Is Without Sin 21 

Eternity 23 

My Heavenly Job 25 

My Morning Prayer 27 

Shallows 28 

Bosoms 28 

The Verse Maker 29 

Dead Man's Hollow 29 

The Tale of the Toiler 35 

To Arms 38 

Rhymes for Sale 38 

A Divine Decree 39 

Finding Old Friends 42 

The Sailor's Dream 43 

Cupid's Foresight 44 

A Personal Affair 45 

The Race of Life 49 

, The Straits of Dover 50 

7 



Contents 



PACE 

A Gentleman of the Sea 51 

My Resting Place 56 

The Boaster's Stool 57 

The Cry of the Slave Child 62 

The Camps of Khaki 65 

Origins 66 

The Song of the Mountain Trail 67 

Faith 68 

The Song of the Mountain 69 

The Wings of the Wind 72 

Home 73 

The Much Abused Editor 74 

Work 75 

Three Pictures of Mother 80 

The Lighthouses on the Pacific 82 

The Cranial Thesaurus 85 

The Springs of Sweetness 86 

For Father's Benefit 91 

'Tis Better to Have Dreamed 93 

The Conundrum of the Ages 9S 

The Soul of the Forest 95 

The Eternal Question 98 

The Gospel of Food 99 

The Surgeon's Dream loi 

The Whipping of Billie O'Burke 106 

The Call of the Western Seas 112 

The Country Church of My Boyhood . 11 5 
8 



Contents 

PAGE 

The Fabled Fisherman 117 

Through the Storm 121 

It Takes a Heap of Rubbin' to Make It Shine . 123 

Plenty of Time 125 

A Contrast 127 

Snow Flowers 130 

Fisherman's Luck 132 

The Battlefields of France 134 

Not in the Book 137 

The Heart of the Universe 139 

The Spice of Life 140 

He That Maketh God a Liar 141 

Havens 143 

The Folks at Home 144 



MY PLACE IN THE SHADE 



MY PLACE IN THE SHADE 

There are folks who are quitters because they can't 

lead, 
When the army is marching to win, 
And unless they are garbed in a general's array, 
They drop out before they begin. 
But they must be leaders and ride at the front. 
And give all the orders in sight. 
But all that I want is a place in the ranks, 
And a chance to get into the fight. 

And some would be kings on the purple draped 

throne, 
And live far away from the crowd; 
They would walk in the splendor of regal domain, 
Where the flattery of puppet is loud. 
In the splendid seclusion and the solitude dim, 
They would wrap up their souls in their cloaks. 
But all that I want is to mix with the crowd, 
And to walk down the street with the folks. 

And others would ride in the very front ranks, 

In the march of the world's great parade. 

Where the bugles are sounding the hero's advance, 

As he comes in his glory arrayed ; 

They won't march at all unless they can draw 

The eyes and the cheers of the street. 

But all that I want is the rear of the march, 

And a chance to trudge through the heat. 

So all that I ask as I tramp this old world. 
Is a chance to get under its load. 
To give it a boost up the hill to the top, 
13 



My Place in the Shade 



And to climb with the folks up the road. 
I do not expect that the sun will bow down 
To the fame of my job and my worth. 
Let mc do what I can with the best that I am, 
In filling my corner on earth. 

IF I WERE GOD 

If I were God upon his throne of endless space and 

force, 
I would not fan a dying star, nor change the comet's 

course; 
The spots upon the solar sphere I would not brush 

away, 
Nor swxep aside the star dust trail, nor count the 

worlds astray. 

If I were God with wisdom, working out creation's 

law of plan, 
I would not seed the desert waste with food for 

beast and man, 
I would not breathe the summer winds upon the 

Northern snows, 
Nor quiet wrecking storms at sea, nor soothe the 

ocean's blows. 

If I were God with open mind that sees beyond to- 
morrow, 

I would not turn aside the flood that scatters death 
and sorrow, 

I would not stop the swTep of plague with famine 
in its wake. 

Nor smother out the raging flame, nor still the 
earth's wild quake. 



My Place in the Shade 



If I were God I would not swing the butcher's 

bloody sword, 
Nor bring the judgments fierce and cruel on those 

who curse "My Lord," 
I would not at a single stroke strike down the sin 

and shame. 
Nor tame the tiger tongue of folks who foul his fair 

good name. 

If I were God I would not block the path of greedy 

warring men, 
I would not stem war's slaughter, nor mend peace's 

broken pen, 
I would not take the wealth of man and strip the 

spoiler's head. 
And share it with the orphan child or those who cry 

for bread. 

If I were God I'd make men's eye see souls instead 

of skin. 
That black folks had the soul of God that thrilled 

with love within, 
I'd give all folks the gift of speech to speak the 

human heart. 
And understand the language plain upon the spirit's 

chart. 

If I were God I'd melt away the icy heart of man — 
— Those greedy, selfish, wolfish hearts who see but 

just their plan. 
I'd take those spirits cruel and cold and sweeten all 

within, 
I'd show that hating brother's face was un forgiven 

sin. 

15 



Aly Place in the Shade 



If I were God I'd crown each toiler's humble, pa- 
tient task 

With the halo of true brotherhood that shines 
through man-made mask; 

I'd give them all the vision of true labor on the 
throne, 

And teach them that the world was his who hews 
the heavy stone. 

If I were God I'd blot away man's manufactured 

creed, 
And substitute for printed book the golden rule of 

need ; 
I'd paint upon the morning sky the crown above the 

cross. 
And teach that man will find his soul in common 

things and loss. 

If God would let me take his place just for a single 

day, 
I'd introduce and teach mankind the gospel of fair 

play, 
Then all the walls of creed and hate would fall to 

rise no more; 
And God could settle down in peace. His troubles 

would be o'er. 



l6 



My Place in the Shade 



THE OLD PACK HORSE 

My memory trails to glory, 
To the years that wander back, 
When I packed my ancient saddle 
And tightened up the slack. 
When I packed my bag and baggage 
On my faithful old gray nag, 
When the distant hills came calling, 
"Follow me with pack and rag." 
When I shouldered all my happiness 
And left my cares behind. 
To trail the haunts of mountain brow 
Where dwelt my spirit kind. 
Then the sky blued all the deeper, 
And the air was filled with song. 
As I journeyed o'er the long trails, 
To the hills where spirits throng. 

When my shoulders seemed to stagger 
From the burdens I must bear. 
When my heart was almost breaking 
From my sorrow and my care; 
Then my fingers gently wandered 
Up and down his old gray nose, 
As I whispered softly to him, 
**We will go where river flows." 
So we left the crowded city. 
With its coldness and its strife. 
And followed to the mountains. 
Where we found new strength of life. 
17 



My Place in the Shade 



I can see him as he journeys, 
With his heavy loaded pack, 
Up the twisting, trailing mountains, 
And never looking back. 
I can see his old gray shoulders 
As he forges straight ahead. 
Through the rivers and the valleys, 
To the mountains royal spread. 
I can see him fording rapids. 
And splashing pebbly streams. 
Where the summits call to action, 
And the mountain depths to dreams. 

I can see his homely features. 
As he plunged through misting rain, 
As he scrambled through the chasms. 
That seemed to moan with pain. 
His gait was far from graceful 
As he climbed sheer up a wall, 
Where the precipice ran narrow 
And the strength of man was small. 
But he never made a falter, 
And he never lost his way. 
As he bore my burdens upward, 
Where the mountains call to pray. 

Where the rivers gleamed like silver, 
Through the valleys deep and long. 
Where the trees were filled with sun- 
shine. 
And melodious with song. 
Where the silence seemed as holy 
As my mother's kneeling shrine. 
Where the sweep of mountain breezes 
i8 



My Place in the Shade 



Was a draught of heaven's wine, 
Where the sky stretched straight and 

upward, 
Through the deeps of royal blue; 
There the old pack horse would bear 

me 
To the mountains, fond and true. 

There the shadows of the evening. 
Creeping out like lonely ghosts, 
Would be shot with rays of sunlight 
Which would herald brighter hosts; 
There the fears that made me lone- 
some. 
And the griefs for friends long dead, 
Would take the wings of glory. 
Leave a blessing on my head. 
There the weakness of the body 
And the error of the soul 
Would be swallowed in God's mercy ; 
I had paid the climber's toll. 

And when my heart is hearing 
The last great call of all. 
When through the changing vision, 
Stand forth God's mountains tall, 
When I go forth to journey 
To the heights that know no lie, 
Where the peace of God abideth. 
And the storms of time pass by; 
May I follow just as safely 
In the path of God's Good Guide, 
To the last great climb to glory. 
When I gain His Mountain Side. 
19 



My Place in the Shade 



MY FAIREST SCENE 

What is the loveliest scene to me? 
The setting sun on the western sea. 

A mountain lake that smiles at skies, 
Is the glow of love in the Father's eyes. 

A prairie decked in Springtime flowers, 

Is the Garden of God with the golden showers. 

A mountain stream with its marbled spray, 
Is the Pearly Street where the children play. 

The apple trees with their blossoms white, 
Is the Home of God where there is no night. 

But the setting sun on the western sea. 
Is the call of God when He comes for me. 



20 



My Place in the Shade 



HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN 

With wisdom the Master unfolded the laws, 
Concerning His kingdom, God's folks and their 

cause. 
"Let mercy adorn your trading in mart," 
"Forgive the transgressor who stabs at your heart," 
"Deal justly and kindly with the creditor's debt," 
"My gospel is simple, Forgive and forget," 
"Judge not the fallen; if the truth be but known," 
"Your sepulchred soul may be bleached a white 

bone" ; 
"My kingdom is his who will follow my Word," 
"Not to him who is saying, 'My Lord and My 

Lord.' " 

In His presence a creature the Pharisees dragged, 
Folding their robes as their virtues they bragged. 
And they spoke as she crouched face down in the 

dust, 
"Lord, she's so shameless, a servant of lust." 
"As the prophets of God and His servants of old" 
"We demand she be punished as Moses foretold"; 
"Lord, we are shocked, our faces can't rise," 
"That her sins should be seen by our virtuous eyes" ; 
"A harlot is stoned, thus saith our laws," 
"Here are the stones. Lord, why do you pause?" 

With shame in His face the Master stooped low, 
And wrote in the dust, "My God, what a blow," 
"When creatures once born in the image of Thee" 
"Should descend to such depths in depravity's sea." 
21 



My Place in the Shade 



"My Father, I'm shamed to look in their face," 
"Their manhood is dead, no soul can I trace." 
"And these are Thy teachers, Thy shepherds of 

sheep," 
"These are Thy trumpets calling souls from their 

sleep." 
"God, what a burden, what a cross I must bear" 
"To live as a man, in breathing their air." 

With firmness of face the Master stood straight, 
And spoke out His heart with truth and with 

weight ; 
"That man who has not been her partner in shame," 
"That man who has not helped destroy her good 

name," 
"That man who has not hot her body for hire," 
"That man who has not dragged her deeper in 

mire," 
"Let him cast the first stone at this innocent prey," 
"Let him be her judge" ; but the scribes slunk away. 

With a smile on His face the Lord turned about, 
"Thine accusers have fled, thou art free to go out," 
"I do not condemn thee, thou art not to blame," 
"Though custom may brand thee a creature of 

shame." 
"Thou art not a harlot, nor hast thou loved wTong," 
"Thou art holy and righteous when seen with this 

throng." 
"Not a prostitute brazen, but a victim of lust," 
"Of that system that crushes weak woman to dust." 
"My sister, go home, thou hast nothing to fear," 
"The Christ is your judge, your Brother is here." 
22 



My Place in the Shade 



ETERNITY 

Within a hospital's dimly lighted ward, 
Wracked in pain as though some ragged sword 
Were piercing through him; a furnace flaming in 

his head, 
A patient, feverish, tossed upon his bed. 
Impatient, fretful, longed he for the dawn. 
In hopes his pangs might lessen, or perhaps be gone. 
Intensely conscious of the present and the past, 
He whispered low to his soft-treading nurse, 
"How much more time must I endure this curse?" 
"What hour is the clock? Is that the morning 

light?" 
The nurse replied, "What time? 'Tis scarcely yet 

midnight." 

So conscious of his pain that all he felt was pain. 
So dragged the sense of time until he called again, 
"The night is gone; hoist up the shades; let in the 

morning light." 
The nurse replied again, "What time? It's now 

midnight." 

Two lovers sat beside the heaving, boundless sea. 
And told the world-old tale, yet new to you and 

me; 
Absorbed in love's sweet song, lost sense of time and 

space. 
Just conscious of a light that flashed from soul to 

face. 

23 



My Place in the Shade 



The world of sound was gone, that roared on sea 
and land, 

Love only heard love's voice, through eye and press- 
ing hand. 

The noisy world blurred low, then disappeared from 
view ; 

Lost in each other's love, another world they knew. 

When suddenly the low descending sun. 

Brought back the sense of time, the day was done. 

Then whispered they, "Can it be true the night is 
near?" 

"Where is the day that's gone? It seemed a mo- 
ment, dear." 

Where was their world of space, the hours that 
marked their time? 

Lost in the consciousness of Love, eternal and sub- 
lime. 

Eternity bloomed fair when Love absorbed their 
hearts ; 

To them there was no time, God showed them 
Heaven's charts. 



24^ 



My Place in the Shade 



MY HEAVENLY JOB 

What is your expectation ? 

If you reach God's destination, 

Do you expect a cushioned seat beneath 

His royal blue, 
Where you may idly rest 
And laugh at tale and jest, 
And lounge and sleep and twirl your 

thumbs without a job in view? 

What is your one desire? 

If you reach the Kingdom higher, 

Do you desire a golden harp and join the 

seraph band. 
And thrum the strings, 
While chorus sings, 
And clap your hands at tenor songs around 

the choir stand ? 

Now what do I expect, 

With God's chosen and select? 

A job to build the plans of God to make 

my star and sun. 
Where I may work my best. 
Without a thought of rest; 
Where I may toil for evermore and never 

hear, "It's done." 
25 



My Place in the Shade 



Now why should folks object, 

When God and Heaven expect, 

That every soul must learn his job to 

build his house above. 
Then let me learn my trade, 
By pen or ship or spade. 
That I may build the better on my Father's 
hills of love. 



26 



My Place in the Shade 



MY MORNING PRAYER 

This is my daily morning prayer 
To Him who gives the daylight fair: 
O, grant Thy sunshine I may drink; 
Deep in my lungs Thy air may sink. 

May I be never found in bed 
When birds are singing overhead; 
Teach me to rise without the clock, 
And may I early take my walk. 

Teach me to love my morning tub, 
In waters cold to splash and rub; 
O, grant my Turkish towel may flood 
Its virtues through my soul and blood. 

Teach me, O Lord, to never fail. 
To drink deep draughts of Adam's ale; 
And may I slowly eat my food 
With cheerful thoughts and friendly mood. 

Teach me that if I love my health, 
I'll grow in wisdom, strength and wealth. 
Dear Lord, I start my morning right. 
That eventide be clear and bright. 



27 



Aly Place in the Shade 



SHALLOWS 

As one who writes his name upon the sands, 
When ebbing tide flows far from where he stands; 
Who thinks his name will last forevermore; 
And pilgrims read his writing on the shore. 
So foolish is the soul that builds on self, 
Thinking that endurance rests on pelf; 
God's flooding tides will in their shallows pour; 
Then where are they who wrote upon the shore? 



BOSOMS 

Like a stream that is born midst the hills and the 

snows. 
That widens and deepens as seaward it flows, 
Till it bears on its bosom the ships of the sea. 
And is lost in the waters so boundless and free. 

So the soul that is born in the pain of the cross. 
Will broaden and strengthen through sorrow and 

loss, 
And gathering lost souls on their bosoms of love, 
Will bear them to God in His kingdom above. 
28 



My Place in the Shade 



THE VERSE MAKER 

"Clatter," "Clatter," "Noisy birds," 
"With your silly prattle" ; 
"Chatter," "Chatter," "Drown my words/ 
"With your senseless rattle." 

"Matter," "Matter," "I need words," 
"For my rhyme and meter" : 
"Scatter," "Scatter," "Noisy birds," 
"Else my verse will peter." 



DEAD MAN'S HOLLOW 

On San Francisco's waterfront, where the ships go 

sailing out. 
The wrangling flocks of seagulls dip, and scream 

and swerve about. 
And there they fly above the decks, or float on top 

the tide; 
Upon the piers and docks they perch along the har- 

borside. 

And there they spy for scraps of food with wolfish, 
greedy eyes, 

And swoop to seize their floating prey, as a falcon 
from the skies; 

Then in a thrice they choke it down, and soar again 
on high. 

To wait with spreading wings in poise more gar- 
bage swimming by. 

29 



My Place in the Shade 



On San Francisco's harborslde, as I was sitting 

there, 
And watching keen those scavengers go swooping 

through the air, 
And swallowing down their throats of greed the 

scraps I threw to sea; 
I chanced to see a sailorman, and he was watching 

me. 

And then outspoke that sailorman, "I beg your par- 
don, sir," 

"That I should speak a stranger man, but strange 
things oft occur"; 

'Tor when I see those greedy gulls go screaming 
for their prey," 

"It minds me much that all are gone of the crew of 
the good 'Queen May.' " 

So then spoke I, "Sit down, sit down. Tell me this 

truthful tale," 
"How the good 'Queen May' went to her doom 

down in that fearful gale." 
And the old sea salt with haunted eyes, that held 

me like a spell, 
Spoke out his tale with a strangled voice like a man 

come back from hell. 

"On board the good 'Queen May' I shipped, where 

I w^as second mate"; 
"On a Friday morning, sir, it w^as, when we passed 

the Golden Gate." 
" 'I do not like those northern clouds,' the captain 

said to me"; 
" 'If I do know the skies at all we'll have a blowin' 

sea.' " 

30 



My Place in the Shade 



"Aye, she could sail, the good 'Queen May,' when 

all her sails were spread," 
"The swiftest ship of all the seas, but now, alas, 

she's dead," 
"And all her crew that sailed that day now hear 

old Neptune's bell," 
"For I alone was saved the wreck; aye, sir, I've 

been in hell." 

"Well, up the coast against a gale that blew like 

'round the Horn," 
"She soared aloft like some white cloud adown a 

windy morn" ; 
"With all her shimmering shrouds and spars when 

she went down to dip" 
"The pride she was of all the crew, aye, she was a 

handsome ship." 

"So sped we swift to Columbia's bar, the waves 

were mountain running," 
"The seas were shipping fore and aft, the gale with 

fury stunning"; 
" 'Where's North Head light,' the captain roared ; 

Tort, port,' rang through his hands; 
" 'God help us all if we do strike the Peacock's 

shifting sands.' " 

" 'If we have missed the course tonight, our port 

we will not see,' " 
" 'For the good "Queen May" will founder here, 

where many a wreck there be,' " 
" 'And all the sweeping winds and waves, and all 

the tides that follow,' " 
"'Will tow the corpse of every man into the Dead 

Man's Hollow.' " 

31 



My Place in the Shade 



"Ah, we did shake from toe to head, as shook the 

good 'Queen May' "; 
"For well we knew the tales we'd heard from 

sailors 'round the Bay." 
"For there all corpses, clammy, dead, were swept by 

tide and tow," 
"And bleaching lay for seagulls' prey in many and 

many a row." 

"Just then on Peacock Spit she struck ; sharp snapped 

the sandbar's jaws" ; 
"The gale was blowin' ninety miles, her masts swept 

down like straws" ; 
"A monstrous sea struck her midships. Ah, sir, I 

knew no more," 
"Until I found myself half dead upon a storm-swept 

shore." 

"Aye, sir, I was in Dead Man's Hollow, the tide 
had thrown me high," 

"And left me on that wreck strewn shore with bat- 
tered breath to die" ; 

"And as I raised a fearful eye I heard a ghoulish 
screech," 

"And there great hordes of seagulls fought, close 
by me on the beach." 

"Then horror shook me through and through, as 

if a ghost I'd seen," 
"For well I knew why seagulls scream on shores 

where bones are lean"; 
"Ah, some poor sailor of the seas swept in when 

the tide was flood," 
"Had left his corpse for these ghouls to feast, and 

the sands to bleach his blood." 
32 



My Place in the Shade 



"But shrieked I soon, 'Away, away, you vultures 

of the sea,' " 
" 'You will not pick my bones to-day, you shan't 

devour me' " ; 
"And then those startled seagulls swerved, their 

prey w^as left exposed," 
"With a fearful groan I swooned away as one whose 

life has closed." 

"Well, next I knew, the lighthouse man was bend- 
ing over me" ; 

"On the rocks below he had seen me cast, by the tide 
and the swelling sea." 

"How did I reach the North Head Light? Well, 
sir, I do not know" ; 

"From Dead Man's Hollow I escaped where all the 
dead men flow." 

"What were those seagulls feasting on? Ah, many 

the sights I've seen," 
"But none like that in Dead Man's Bay where the 

vultures picked bones clean"; 
"And I did never see again the crew of the good 

'Queen May,' " 
"For all save me, from the captain down, lay a 

corpse for the seagulls' prey." 

"And over all the seas I sail, and all the ports I 

reach," 
"I can hear the screech of the seagull horde as they 

feed on Dead Man's beach"; 
"So when I see those scavengers gulp down their 

garbage prey," 
"It minds me much of the hell I saw when washed 

to that fearful bay." 
33 



My Place in the Shade 



On San Francisco's waterfront where the old salt 

spun his tale, 
A vow I swore that evermore, and that I would not 

fail, 
To lend a hand to the lonely folks whose seas are 

swept by storm, 
And save their souls from the human gulls who wait 

to strike and swarm. 



34 



My Place in the Shade 



THE TALE OF THE TOILER 

Hear now the tale of the toiler with his face to his 
setting sun, 

Ascending on high to his Master to receive His 
welcome, '*Well Done"; 

Wrecked by the lords of labor, damned by the par- 
son's speech. 

Cursed by the creeds and their puppets ; bled by the 
soulless leech. 

I was spawned where the slums are breeding the 

harlot, the drunken and fools. 
What did I know of my childhood in the midst of 

incestuous pools; 
Roaming the streets and the alleys, sleeping in gut- 
ters and docks. 
Chased by the law and their slavemen, the breed 

of the Court that walks. 
Sent to the dens of the convict, mingling in vice and 

its shame, 
Hardened by stripes and the jacket, forgetting my 

face and my name. 
Back to the shops of the sweater, breathing its germs 

of disease, 
Making the profits that Dives might gloat in his 

riotous ease. 
And now I am broken and dying, shunned as a 

leper of old; 
But going up home to my Master to work in His 

city of gold. 

35 



My Place in the Shade 



I have slaved in the fiery furnace where the flames 
were a vomiting hell, 

Hearing the shriek of my brother, trapped in his 
molten cell ; 

Pouring the liquid metal, burning me through to the 
bone. 

Hammering the steel in its whiteness, strangling 
my faintness and groan. 

Slinking away like a convict to a home that dis- 
graces a den, 

A hole in the tenement alley, huddling like beasts 
in a pen. 

Breaking my body misshapen, twisting and scarring 
my soul, 

Making the millions for Profit; my wage, a pitiful 
toll. 

Sapping my strength for System ; discharged when 
they bled me dry; 

But — going to tell my Master where Industry can- 
not lie. 

I have squandered my strength and my manhood 

in the cup and the harlot's lair; 
Seeking to drown my sorrow, just to forget my 

despair; 
Wasted my soul by my sinning, swinging the doors 

of shame. 
No other welcome and greeting for me with the 

toiler's name; 
Locked were the doors of my masters, marked with 

the supercaste, 
High were the walls of the churches, strong were 

the doctrines that blast. 

36 



My Place in the Shade 



Longing for brother and sister, searching the streets 
at night, 

Finding the open doorway red with its welcome 
light, 

Craving and starving for friendship, followed the 
halls of hell; 

But — the Master is calling, "Brother, 'tis the twi- 
light and evening bell." 

This is the tale of the toiler who had found his 
hell on earth. 

Damned by the System of Profit, marked as a slave 
from his birth; 

Crushed by the curse of the ages, under the Jug- 
gernaut wheel, 

Man, the exploited and broken, forced by the mas- 
ters to kneel. 

This is the law of the Master who knows and who 
understands, 

The heart of the honest toiler who slaved with his 
willing hands ; 

Knowing the hell he has suffered from the greed 
and creed of man, 

Will make him a saint and a servant, working with 
God in his plan. 



37 



Aly Place in the Shade 



TO ARMS 

The streets were rino;ing wild with war's alarms; 
The herald's voice ranj,r shrill, "TO ARMS, TO 
ARMS." 

The maiden Spring was blushing at her charms; 
Cute Cupid's voice sang soft, "To arms, to arms." 



RHYMES FOR SALE 

I've never sold a foot of verse, 

I've never felt such pleasure; 

But should my rhymes enrich my purse, 

I'll give good "Measure for Measure." 



38 



My Place in the Shade 



A DIVINE DECREE 

Now hear ye the tale of the Owner of Things who 

heard from His topmost throne, 
The wailing prayers of the working clan, "Oh, 

Lord, give us back our own." 
"Grant us our freedom from burning the bricks, 

from the mark of the sweating soil." 
"Divide the wealth of creation. Lord, give us our 

share of the spoil." 

"We are weary with working for masters; let us 

live in Lord Dives house," 
"That our souls may be fat and contented, for now 

they are lean like a louse." 
"The rich man strip of his garments, give us his 

velvet and silk"; 
"There's abundance of wealth in creation, what 

need of the workingman's ilk." 

So the Owner of Things descended, and called from 

the ends of the earth, 
The peoples who toiled and sweated, where hunger 

was starving their mirth ; 
And they came from the mines and the furnace, the 

shop and the schools and the soil. 
From the woods and the ships and cities, those who 

were cursing their toil. 

And the Owner said, "I will tell you, let every man 

now have his share" 
"Of the wealth and the leisure and pleasure, let 

no man have burdens to bear," 
39 



My Place in the Shade 



"The poor shall live in a mansion, the rich shall 

dwell in the same," 
"And all shall be equal together in riclies and power 

and name." 

"The strong shall divide with the weaker, of his 

treasures in forests and lands," 
"So no one shall toil for his living, so no one shall 

work with his hands." 
"Now this is my law of redemption from hunger 

and struggle and need," 
"Ye shall share alike in creation, this your Lord 

God hath decreed." 

Then the Lord God said to his people, "I will now 

get me up on high," 
"I have solved man's problems and worries, they 

will neither now steal nor lie." 
"I have granted your prayers and desires, I have 

given each man his share," 
"Let us see if you'll live like brothers, and your 

world have freedom from care." 

But ere to His throne He ascended, the heavens 

were shaking with sound. 
Countless wailings and pleadings, complaints soared 

up from the ground. 
And the Owner said to His angel, "Have I not 

settled all wrong," 
"Why are my ears bombarded, what's wrong with 

that workingman's throng?" 

Strong voices were shouting, "Have mercy, Lord, 
pull us out of this slime," 
40 



My Place in the Shade 



"It's hell for a man with his leisure with nothing 

to kill but time." 
''When we sweated with pick and the shovel we 

gained the respect of men," 
"Take back your accursed money and give us our 

jobs again." 

And the heavens were filled with the shriekings, 

"Lord God, my brother's a thief," 
"The clever has cornered the market, the simple 

must have relief." 
"Those who were rich are richer; once we deemed 

the division fair"; 
"Those who were poor are wiser. Lord, give us 

back our share." 

And the skies went rolling with echoes, "What fools 
we mortals be," 

"When we thought that a voice from heaven could 
set the workman free," 

"We are deeper in shame and the mire, we are 
sadder and poorer in wealth," 

"Lord, send us back to our work shops, our pov- 
erty, happiness, health." 

And so the Lord God who is Owner gave back 
to the sons of toil 

The sweat of the spade and the shovel, the mark 
of the furnace and soil. 

And He uttered these words of wisdom as the peo- 
ple went back to the dust, 

"Who lives on another man's earnings reaps mis- 
ery, shame, and lust." 
41 



My Place in the Shade 



FINDING OLD FRIENDS 

'Twas a shelf of bwks in a side street shop, that 

were dusty and old and worn, 
And as I fingered those volumes quaint I was gay 

as in Youth's bright morn ; 
For I found old friends of my boyhood's days 

whom I'd lost in my manhcxjd's years, 
And I laughed and I cried as I fondled my friends, 

and I smiled through my memory's tears. 

And my childhood days came back again, once more 

I was sailing the sea, 
As my hero was roaming the wide, wide world and 

was bringing his treasures to me; 
My age was slipping away from me, and my boyhood 

came back again, 
As I greeted my friends in the old book shop, as 

though parted we had never been. 



42 



My Place in the Shade 



THE SAILOR'S DREAM 

Dreaming sailor saw the old world, 
Disappear from view; 
Saw the burning stars and planets; 
Bigger worlds and new. 

Gazed with wonder on the cities, 
Boulevards of gold; 
Fertile fields and orchards blooming, 
Mountains broad and bold. 

Mighty plains and stretching highways, 
Travellers all on foot. 
Pilgrims crossing dusty deserts, 
Skies of smoky soot. 

Saw no sign of heaving billows. 
Not a ship at sea, 
Not a zephyr blow^ing shoreward. 
Not an island tree. 

"Not a sea up in the new world," 
"This is hell for me." 
Waking sailor thanked his Father, 
"Glad I'm on Thy sea." 



43 



My Place in the Shade 



CUPID'S FORESIGHT 

Hear now the sage, 
**Man*s love is blind"; 
"Sees but the form" 
"Of woman kind." 

"Sees golden hair," 
"The pearly ear," 
"The flashing eyes," 
"Where smiles appear," 
"The dimpled chin," 
"The fairy nose," 
"The blushing cheeks," 
"Red like the rose." 

Thus saith the books, 
On page and chart; 
"Man's sight is poor, 
"From Cupid's dart." 

What fools they be; 
Man's love can look. 
Through safes and vaults, 
To banking book. 

And when Love joins 
The Mart to Miss, 
Man's found the charm, 
To wedded bliss. 
44 



My Place in the Shade 



A PERSONAL AFFAIR 

Said the Galilean Workman on His throne high on 

the hills, 
"Let us speak the winnowing judgment, let us start 

the grinding mills" ; 
"We will set the stakes and boundaries for the 

goats and for the sheep," 
"Lest that man may have forgotten, let us shake 

him from his sleep." 

Then Gabriel's cornet sounded from the Throne 

to Farthest Gloom, 
Shook the souls from out the dust heap, summoned 

man to hear his doom. 
"The Books will now be opened, hidden lives will 

be revealed," 
"It's the final Court of Record ; its decisions not 

appealed." 

Said the Judge unto a churchman, "I have some- 
thing now to say," 

"It's a personal matter with me, this your final 
judgment day"; 

"Listen to the reasons that I bring before your 
face," 

"Why you must roam in darkness where the souls 
are lost in space." 

"I was hungry, starving, dying, and I begged a bite 

of bread," 
"Begone you lazy beggar, heaped your curses on my 

my head." 

45 



My Plact in the Shade 



"I was thirsting in my faintness, and I asked the 

cooling cup," 
"You kicked me from your doorway as you would 

some thieving pup." 

"I was naked, cold and feverish, and begged your 

cast-ofi rags," 
"You were worshipping your idols as you clutched 

your money bags." 
"I was a wandering stranger; on the highways had 

been thrown," 
"You slammed that mirrored doorway as you 

shouted, 'It's my own.' " 

"I was cast into the prison through the injustice of 
caste law," 

"You were busy in my sorrow choking profit down 
your craw." 

"I was sick and poor and helpless, needing friend- 
ship, nothing more" ; 

"But your eyes were looking skyward when you 
passed my open door." 

Then the churchman clad in morals muttered, "It's 
a lie," 

"Never turned you from my doorway as you went 
begging by," 

"Never cup of cooling water did I my Lord re- 
fuse," 

"When did I the Son of Heaven insult and abuse?" 

"Never once did you come naked, begging for my 

cast off clothes," 
"When were you so sick in prison ; when were you 

stripped by your foes?" 

46 



My Place in the Shade 



"Surely, you're mistaken, Master; hear me say my 

creed," 
"What has this to do with judgment; all this want 

and human need." 

Said the Judge with wisdom's bearing, "Have you 

never read the Word," 
"When you shut your ears to mercy you have 

stabbed the Living Lord." 
"Since you would not feed My hungry, since their 

wounds you would not see," 
"You have sinned the sin of ages, you have done 

it unto Me." 

Said the Master to the Gentile who was crouching 

low with fear. 
Whom the churchman spurned in horror, scorned his 

hopes with bitter sneer, 
"You have won my widest kingdom, you shall rule 

my highest throne," 
"You befriended me so lowly, homesick, stranger, 

all alone. 

"I was starving midst of plenty, when you shared 

with me your crust," 
"Cooled my parching lips with water when I 

fainted in the dust," 
"Naked, sick and sad you found me, stripped the 

clothes from off your back," 
"Took me to your homely dwelling, watched my 

soul come from the wrack." 

Then the Gentile gazed in wonder when he heard 
the Master speak; 

47 



My Place in the Shade 



"Lord, did I this friendship give You ; You the 
strong and I the weak," 

"Thought it just a fallen brother, blackman, drunk- 
en and debased," 

"Surely, Lord, you are mistaken, have you not the 
man misplaced." 

Said the Judge with brother's greeting, "When you 
helped that fallen man" 

"You were worshipping the Father, you were carry- 
ing out His plan," 

"When you lost yourself in service your soul was 
found again," 

"For you did it to the Father when you did it unto 
men." 

So the churchman who depended on his creed to 

gain his throne. 
Was condemned to outer darkness where selfishness 

has flown. 
While the Gentile found his kingdom by the royal 

road of love; 
For when you feed the hungry you have built your 

home above. 



48 



My Place in the Shade 



THE RACE OF LIFE 

Head and Heart once ran a race, 
Heart got the start and set the pace; 
Running blindly, lost his way, 
Floundered deeper, went astray. 

Head ran on and took the lead, 
Running slowly, taking heed; 
Careful of his hesitation, 
Lost his way and destination. 

Heart and Head set out again, 

Wiser in the ways of men. 

"To reach our goal we'll stick to- 
gether," 

"We'll bind our limbs with wisdom's 
tether." 



49 



My Place in the Shade 



THE STRAITS OF DOVER 

A winsome lass sang on her way, 

And wandered like a rover; 

O'er hills and dales where violets play, 

Through fields knee deep in clover; 

Until she came to waters blue, 

It was the Straits of Dover. 

"I wish I had a lover true; 

"Now, who will row me over?" 

A handsome lad that summer day. 

Was harvesting his clover; 

And chanced to stroll along that way, 

Sun kissed like some sea rover; 

He heard the maiden softly sigh, 

"Oh, for a boatman lover." 

The youth replied with sparkling eye, 

"I will row you over." 

A winsome lass and handsome lad. 

Rowed o'er the Straits of Dover; 

The youth was whistling loud and glad. 

The maid as red as clover; 

Too soon they reached the other side. 

The maiden sighed, "It's over." 

"I'll kiss you now," the youth replied; 

"I am now your lover." 



50 



My Place in the Shade 



A GENTLEMAN OF THE SEA 

On Captain Neptune's lithe greyhound when the 

tide was running flood, 
Through the Bay and the Golden Gate we sailed 

with the sea tang in our blood; 
And the ocean gripped us fast and strong, and the 

spray sped swift to shore, 
As out through the troughs of mountain waves our 

liner raced and tore. 

And the crowds along the waterfront, when she 

would anchor there, 
Would swear by all their temple gods, through 

weather foul or fair, 
That she could show the swiftest heels against the 

wind or tide. 
Than any ship that ever sailed from Frisco's har- 

borside. 

And every captain up the coast from San Pedro to 

the Sound, 
Had followed in the wake of her that ran like sleek 

greyhound. 
"Aye, she was fast, and she could sail, though a 

ship of monstrous size," 
"And swept the stormy seas along like a bird that 

wings the skies." 

Now Captain Neptune's custom was, when his ship 

was on the fly, 
To greet all vessels on the sail, and those who just 

stood by; 

51 



My Place in the Shade 



And he would blow a loud salute, when his course 

lay 'cross a ship, 
And doff his cap to the sailorman, and his flag went 

down to dip. 

"For all the folks who man the boats are close to 
me of kin, 

"And I can see no difference there, no matter breed 
or skin ; 

"So when I chance to cross some crew when scud- 
ding tlirough the breeze, 

"Though I command the finest deck, I'll speak my 
courtesies." 



And as we skipped and swept the waves as a sea- 
gull mounts the gale, 

There chanced to cross our ocean path a ship with 
battered sail, 

A tramp windjammer from the Sound, and manned 
by Japanese, 

A coastwise schooner loaded deep, and swept by 
flooding seas. 

But the sailormen who manned her deck, although 

she sailed so slow, 
Held high her headway to her course, but staggered 

with each blow; 
And when she shipped a rolling sea, and she would 

bend her mast, 
The passengers and crew would cry, "Aye, there 

she's gone at last." 

52 



My Place in the Shade 



And there I couldn't fail to see this strange con- 
trasted scene, 

Two ships were sailing through the storm, and one 
was broken, lean, 

And ever seemed those storming seas would swallow 
her to death; 

While the mammoth ship on which we sailed 
skipped through with easy breath. 

Said Captain Neptune to his mate, ''A plucky crew 

they be"; 
"For they do hold her head on high against that 

breaking sea," 
"And though I think they do not need my ship 

longside to lay," 
"I'll speak to them a word of cheer, and God speed 

them on their way." 

And then the siren sounded shrill with a blast that 

shook the sky, 
And loud spoke Captain Neptune as he slowed up 

sailing by, 
"How goes it, brother shipmates? it's good to meet 

a crew, 
"Who sail their ship in a blowing gale and hold 

her headway true." 

"And can I help you this or that? Will I stand 
to and wait?" 

"And can you make home port again through Fris- 
co's Golden Gate?" 

"And if you think the gale will wreck I'll throw 
a line aboard," 

53 



A^y Place in the Shade 



"For you must not go down below to Davy Jones* 
hoard." 

And then the faces of the crew, when spoke the cap- 
tain's word, 

Outbroke in smiles that cheered the eyes as if good 
news they'd heard. 

And one spoke out in English tongue which he'd 
learned in foreign port, 

— The language of the sailorman in ships of every 
sort. 

"Your greeting and your courtesy this schooner's 

crew has cheered, 
"Distress's flag we thought we'd hoist, but now no 

danger's feared, 
"The sweeping weaves on fore and aft we will not 

mind no more, 
"For a brother's voice has greeted us, we'll sing our 

way to shore." 

I saw the schooner slip behind, the crew stood up 

and straight, 
Our captain shouted, "See you soon ashore in the 

Golden Gate." 
And the last we saw of ship and crew when we 

had said good-bye. 
Were their waving hands and a flag full blown 

which they had hoisted high. 

And all the days that come and go, and all the years 

that've flown, 
Have never dimmed the truth I learned when on 

that sea, storm blown; 
54 



My Place in the Shade 



For I have never met the man more perfect in the 
art, 

Of putting courage into folks than Captain Nep- 
tune's heart. 

And all the struggling folks I meet when they go 

limping by, 
I speak a v^ord of cheer to them before they pass and 

die; 
And all the joys of coming years, and all my heaven 

beyond. 
Will be to meet the folks I've helped vi^hen deep in 

dark despond. 



55 



My Place in the Shade 



MY RESTING PLACE 

When I shall die, 
Oh, let me lie 

Upon the mountain's brow; 
Close up to God, 
When He turns the sod, 
To herald the endless Now. 

Then let me sleep. 

Where the soft winds creep, 

To embrace the summits and sky; 

So when I wake. 

In the Morn's first break, 

I'm close to my Home on High. 

So let me rest, 

On the mountain's breast. 

Far from the noise and strife; 

So when He calls 

From marble walls, 

I shall hear His call to Life. 

My sleep shall be sweet, 

For I know I shall greet, 

When I rise from the grave and its 

chills; 
My Father of Love, 
Ruling kingdoms above, 
From His throne on the brow of His 

hills. 

56 



My Place in the Shade 



THE BOASTER'S STOOL 

At the height of Athens' fame, when her poets were 
aflame, 

When wise old Socrates was teaching school, 

Down near the sea girt cove was a sheltering shady 
grove. 

And was known throughout the land as Boaster's 
Stool. 

Here the sitters from the street and the idling loaf- 
ing feet. 

Would assemble at the rising of the sun. 

And fill the day with speech, with harangue, and 
gesture, screech, 

And boast of all the wonders they had done. 

One morn when talk was loud from the noisy brag- 
ging crowd, 

Four youths with haughty looks came strutting in; 

There was one of Spartan stock, there was one of 
Theban walk. 

And the tall one had the clear Corinthian skin, 

While the one with head held high, haughty eyes 
fixed on the sky. 

Was born and bred a straight Megarian son. 

Each one had won his crown from their rivals in 
his town. 

And so they came to Athens to boast of glory won. 

In a voice that thundered, shook, the Spartan youth 

screamed, "Look," 
"I am the one to whom all heroes pray," 
'Tor I can stand upon one leg on the edge of any 

keg," 

57 



My Place in the Shade 



"And keep a steady balance all the day." 

"In perfect grace and poise, midst the clamor and 

the noise," 
"I can sleep without the blinking of an eye." 
"1 have never been surpassed, all my rivals are out- 
classed," 
"My fame is written high upon the sky." 

Then the Theban strutted out with a haughty look 

and shout, 
"I know my fame has reached you long ago" ; 
"Let me state again in short what is now the world's 

report," 
"I'm the hardest, swiftest kitker with the toe," 
"I've developed such a skill by my patience and my 

will," 
"That my blows will lift strong mortals of? the 

earth," 
"I'm the wonder of the age, my fame is all the 

rage," 
"And you've never seen my equal since your birth." 

The Corinthian like a hound was leaping on the 

ground, 
"Behold in me the gods' supreme delight," 
"My fame has travelled far, I'm the world's one 

brilliant star," 
"I've won my crown for seeing things at night." 
"I can follow owls and bats, I can see things like 

the rats," 
"I can travel through the darkness like a mouse" ; 
"I've trained my eyes so well that my deeds hold 

all in spell" ; 
"I dwell alone in fame's eternal house." 

58 



My Place in the Shade 



The Megarian strode in pride through the clamoring 

crowd, and cried, 
"You've seen the first and last of heroes born," 
"You must shade your humble eyes, from the foolish 

to the wise," 
"I've trained my mouth to outblow any horn" ; 
"All the home folks were so jealous at my nightly 

drill so zealous, 
"That they sought to have me banished far from 

Greece," 
"But their e5^es soon opened wide with wonderment 

and pride"; 
"And now my niche is higher than Jason and his 

Fleece." 

Now Socrates the wise, who observed with mind and 

eyes, 
Was strolling slowly past the Boaster's Stool. 
This screeching, noisy rabble with their bragging, 

boasting babble. 
Had for many days disturbed him in his school. 
"It will be but little trouble to explode this windy 

bubble," 
"I'm sick of all their empty-headed bray." 
So he spat out in disgust, with his sandal stirred the 

dust, 
And this is what the braggarts heard him say. 

"The silliest goose on earth from the moment of 

his birth," 
"Can stand all day upon a single toe" ; 
"The laziest, leanest mule without exception to the 

rule," 

59 



My Place in the Shade 



"Will astonish any mortal with his blow"; 

*'An old tomcat at night prowling out with half a 

sight," 
"Will see more things than any fool that's born"; 
"That braying, old jackass feeding on the public 

"Will outblow any braggart's tooting horn." 



Now Socrates's shrewd wit made a most tremendous 

hit 
With many of the sitters from the street; 
It was like a dagger point piercing through them to 

the joint, 
And it cut clear through the home of their conceit. 
It was a mirror's light giving them the second 

sight, 
And they saw what they had never seen before. 
Then they laughed and then they cheered, then they 

mocked and then they jeered. 
And then they lifted high the boasting four. 



"Let us move a vote of thanks for these fools and 

boasting cranks," 
"And have some resolutions passed and booked" ; 
"We owe these fools a debt, and one we can't for- 

get," 
"They have painted us exactly as we looked." 
"We never knew before until we heard these four," 
"That the boaster and the fool was on a par" ; 
"For sometimes it's an ass that leads us to the glass," 
"Where we see ourselves exactly as we are." 
60 



My Place in the Shade 



Then these youths looked down in shame, and forgot 

their lust for fame, 
And each resolved to turn his strength to good. 
One cleared the highway road from the robber's 

dark abode, 
And one along the desert way sowed fruitful food, 
And one dug deep a well covered o'er like restful 

cell. 
And one kept watch for wounded, weary cries. 
So when these youths passed on to the bright eternal 

dawn. 
Their fame had gone before them to the skies. 



bi 



My Place in the Shade 



THE CRY OF THE SLAVE CHILD 

Men shriek at the ancient altars where Moloch 
belched his jaw, 

Who devoured the little children to appease his 
bloody maw, 

Where the babes of barbarous Carthage were sacri- 
ficed for greed, 

And the screams of the dying victims were drowned 
in priestly creed. 

But my cry is of living people, who shout with the 

braggart's boast, 
That their land is gospeled and Christian from city 

to countr)^ and coast. 
Where the drawl of the hired parson and the ranter 

in Congress Halls, 
But mock the voice of the Master, and drown my 

childish calls. 

Now Industry's temples are greedy, and Mammon's 

cruel jaws must be fed, 
And the god of the Dividend worshipped, and the 

altar of Capital spread. 
The priests of Small Trade and Big Business from 

god Profit must not be barred. 
So my little brothers and sisters are sacrificed, 

broken and marred. 

I winnow the coal in the breakers with fingers 

bloody and torn. 
In the chill of the darkened morning soon after the 

day I am born, 

62 



Aly Place in the Shade 



In the blinding dust of the coal chute I crouch like a 

hopeless slave, 
Sometimes I am crushed and mangled ; thank God 

for a restful grave. 

I am fed to the mills of the southland, where chiv- 
alry dwells but a dream ; 

Half dressed, unwashed and hungry I hear the 
whistles scream ; 

I am scarred by the speeding shuttles, the "spinners" 
and "doifers" die young; 

I envy the slave of the heathen, and I'm the child 
of the white man's tongue. 



I am gorging the canneries, bellies where my child- 
hood chokes and pants, 

I work for twenty long hours till I fall in the ''labor- 
trance," 

The gourmand must feast and riot, no matter at 
whose expense, 

I have ruined my childhood's glory, but I've earned 
my forty cents. 

Now Luxury must be worshipped and her stomach 
surge out like a swell; 

And the Idle will squander their money, and In- 
dustry knows this well ; 

So I shuck the knife edged oyster and slave in the 
shrimping stall, 

Where the acids corrosive and deadly devour my 
flesh till I fall. 

63 



My Place in the Shade 



Now since our Industrial System bows low to cruel 

Profit's rule, 
I must slave in the cursed sweatshop and cringe to 

its godless tool ; 
I never see school or playground, I'm old when I 

ought to be young; 
God help the creeds of some churches with their 

poisonous blasphemous tongue. 

Foul lust is a servant of Mammon, and her altars 

must swarm with the gay, 
So I carry the message at midnight where vice gorges 

whole on her prey; 
I have heard the hard laugh of the harlot and the 

drunken whimpering sot, 
I know the whole book of evil ; and I ought to be 

home in my cot. 

Now this is the cry of warning I raise to a nation 
rich, 

Why do you kill my childhood and throw me aside 
in the ditch? 

Is there not wealth abundant? Have you forgotten 
the Word of God's son, 

When he laid his curse on the churchmen for of- 
fending his little one? 



64 



My Place in the Shade 



THE CAMPS OF KHAKI 

I saw the boys in khaki, 
As they were marching by, 
The army camps of khaki. 
Where men are taught to die. 
My prayer went up for the khaki 

boys. 
Who laugh as death comes nigh. 

The boys come quick in khaki, 
The manly boys and brave, 
The peaceful families looked far. 
They saw no soldier's grave. 
But when the captain called for 

men. 
The boys came forth to save. 

The boys come forth from farm 

house, 
From college desk, school room. 
The crowded streets of city, 
They give their manhood's bloom. 
They offer up their boyish lives, 
They gladly march to doom. 

God bless you, boys in khaki. 
Who give your lives away; 
Who choose the camp and battle. 
And leave your work and play. 
God give you all a lasting home. 
If death the price you pay. 

65 



My Place in the Shade 



ORIGINS 

"Whence came thou, Ever Spanning Space?" 
"God needed worlds to see His Face." 

"Where wast thou bom, All Endless Time?" 
"God thought His thoughts in human rhyme." 

"Bright Milky Way, who lit thy street?" 
"God stirred His sand with His flying feet." 

"Who made thee, Wanderer on High?" 

"God trailed His star dust through the sky." 

"How did you come, High Northern Star?" 
"God flashed His eyes on scenes afar." 

"Thou ruddy Sun, whence thy far flame?" 
"God wrote in space His second name." 

"Who made thee. Earth, with law and plan?" 
"God made His world to house His man." 

"Whence came you, Man, with praying knees?" 
"God led me up from slimy seas." 

"Whence came thou. Soul, that laughs at death?" 
"God gave His life to give me breath." 



66 



My Place in the Shade 



THE SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL 

My heart is stirred deep by the blue billowy sea, 

And the long winding river I love; 

But the scene that reveals my Heaven to me, 

Is the trail to the mountains above. 

The heart of a maid is a constant surprise, 
Always changing her charms and her love, 
But the long mountain trail swinging up to the skies, 
Is the glimpse of the country above. 

When I feel the tramp blood of my kin roving 

breed. 
And hear the song shout of the sky, 
I flee the dust tombs of monotony's creed, 
And follow the trail mountain high. 

Now the heart of the maid has a thousand fresh 

views. 
Every time she is falling in love; 
But the trip up the trail is the spirit's bold cruise, 
For it shows us the kingdoms above. 



67 



My Place in the Shade 



FAITH 

I saw my ship in the evening light, 
Hoist anchor and cross the bar, 
And spreading her sails to the darken- 
ing night, 
Disappear like a vanishing star. 

Faith saw my ship in the distant land, 
Drop anchor inside the bar, 
And the waiting friends with the out- 
stretched hand, 
And the welcome from afar. 

I saw my babe in the morning light. 
Fade away like an autumn rose. 
And smiling at me like an angel 

bright, 
Disappear where the darkness goes. 

Faith saw my babe in the Higher 

Star, 
Full grown as the Father's Son, 
Oh, Time, speed on till I cross the 

bar. 
To the kingdom my faith has won. 



68 



My Place in the Shade 



THE SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN 

I am the mighty mountain, the shoulders of sea and 
earth ; 

From the womb of the fiery furnace I have struggled 
forth to my birth; 

I came to carry earth's burdens, lift up the conti- 
nents high; 

I plant my feet in the fire, yet I keep my eyes on 
the sky. 

I have shouldered the tasks of creation, yet never 

complained have I, 
Though Fve gazed on the countless ages, coming 

forth, then slowly die; 
Though Fve borne on my shifting shoulders the 

heaviest tasks of God, 
Yet never once have I whimpered from the blows of 

the cosmic rod. 

The fiery blasts of creation have shaken my topmost 

snow, 
I have trembled in tortured silence from the sudden 

invisible blow. 
My valleys of grace and great beauty have been 

swept by the vomiting flame. 
My shore line's been twisted and strangled, I have 

stood in the wreck and the shame. 

The snows of eternal winter have pressed on my 

weary brow. 
The grinding glacier wounds me until low in my 

grief I bow. 

69 



My Place in the Shade 



The sweep of the snowy tempests have blinded my 

watching eyes, 
I wanted to sink and crumble ; but I kept my eyes 

on the skies. 



The rivers have plunged from their fastness, tore 

open my bleeding side, 
The avalanche sweeping downward has insulted my 

glory and pride, 
The forests have crushed down my shoulders until I 

was weary with pain, 
The boulders have crashed through my gardens till 

all of their beauty was slain. 

I am the mighty mountain, I bear my back to the 

task, 
I carry the burdens of progress, and never once do 

I ask 
Why my shoulders must stagger and falter along 

the creator's rough road. 
— For my back grows broader and stronger till 

with ease I can carry my load. 

So I sing of creation's burdens, to the strength that 

flows from their weight ; 
I accept my task from my Master, and I do not call 

it fate; 
My back may bend and tremble, but after I've borne 

it long, 
I straighten my shoulders skyward, my burden has 

made me strong. 

70 



My Place in the Shade 



So I sing my song to earth's creatures who struggle 

amid the dust, 
I point the highway to travel to escape from the 

greed and the lust. 
''You must bare your back to life's burdens, not 

those of the personal need, 
But the burdens of lowly brothers, whose backs 

are bending and bleed. 

"Would you drink at the fountains eternal, share 

life with your brother God," 
''Then take up the burdens of labor, and bend your 

back to the rod"; 
"Would you grow to a spirit immortal, surviving 

all change and decay?" 
"You build it out of the burdens, the trials and 

struggles to-day." 

"And this is the song I am singing: Oh, mortals, if 
ye would be strong," 

"Get under the heaviest burdens, get into the work- 
man's throng"; 

"Heed not the wounds and the bruises, keep your 
eyes fixed on the skies" ; 

"Out of the crushings and grindings your soul will 
come forth and arise." 



71 



My Place in the Shade 



THE WINGS OF THE WIND 

The deep blue sea where the far winds play, 
Sings me a song through my long, long day. 

The billows sing why the restless roam, 
Tossed about with a dream of home. 

The breakers sing of the storm and blast, 
Of the summer day that cannot last. 

The tempest sings of the stranded ships. 
The homeless wrecks with the silent lips. 

The sailors sing of the journey far. 
Seeking their port by the Northern Star. 

The deep blue sea where the far winds play, 
Sings me Faith's song, My Perfect Day. 



7^ 



My Place in the Shade 



HOME 

An ocean swept by storm, seas running mountain 

high, 
With stars unseen, no light on wave or sky. 
A vessel plunging headlong through the night. 
With shrieking winds, a scene of awe and fright. 
A captain on the bridge, with compass and with 

chart. 
With eye upon the needle, a faith within his heart. 
A harbor with the waiting friends on shore, 
To welcome home the folks with open door. 

A homing pigeon loosened in the darkness of the 

night, 
A thousand miles from home, a strange and distant 

flight. 
Without the sun to guide him in the day, 
Without the Star at night to point the way. 
Without a compass, sextant or a chart, 
Without an observation or the seaman's art. 
But this aerial sailor with an instinct for his home, 
Straightway heads his journey over land and foam. 

A soul upon the storm swept sea of life, 

With doubts in strong control, faith shaken in the 

strife. 
Creeds wrecked and scattered, theology insane, 
Life's contradictions foremost, hopes, fallen, slain. 
A heart, homesick and restless, amidst the wreck, 
The compass lost, no pilot on the deck, 
A home beyond, outside the farthest star; 
No time or space can stop that journey far. 
73 



My Place in the Shade 



THE MUCH ABUSED EDITOR 

What a soft, tender soul the editor has, 
Such a kindly, fatherly man he must be, 
His "regrets" always drip with remorse 

and deep woe, 
That he must disappoint a great author 

like me. 

Such an appreciative spirit possesses this 

man. 
He can recognize merit wherever it be; 
For sending my "stuff" for him to peruse, 
He's under eternal obligation to me. 

I'll never abuse the editor more; 

— He's an ill-treated man, the worst that 

can be; 
For he says he'll be glad to read any 

"stuft"," 
That comes from an author like me. 



74 



My Place in the Shade 



WORK 

I have never loved the city w^Ith its restaurants and 

food, 
For my appetite has always to be nursed ; 
And when I've searched the menu and have ordered 

something good, 
I really think my stomach must be cursed ; 
For all the scents and odors that are spreading out 

through space, 
Will focus just above my dinner plate. 
And when Fve tried to swallow with a somewhat 

sickly face, 
I have to lure my stomach with a bait. 

I have coaxed it with some mustard, and I've nursed 

it with a pickle. 
But it never would arouse itself to run ; 
I have nibbled at an olive when I thought it was 

too fickle. 
But that appetite would never work for fun. 
I have tried to swallow lobster, caviar and piquant 

wines, 
And finally a portion of it stayed; 
But I've never felt real hunger in the midst where 

hunger dines. 
Though a multitude of tips and checks I've paid. 

But I've always loved the forest with the perfume 

from the trees. 
And to swing along the ever-deepening trails; 
And when I smell the hemlock like some incense on 

the breeze, 

75 



My Place in the Shade 



And the odor of the cedar in the dales, 

And the scent of spruce and fir tree and the balsam 

from the hills, 
That's the time I feel I'm walking on the air; 
With my lungs deep breathing nature and my blood 

with racing thrills, 
Then I know what happy, hungr>' man will dare. 

Then I love to hear the axes and the cross-cut saws 

at play. 
When the sun is snuffing out his golden lamp; 
And to see the hewed log cabins in the clearing plain 

as day, 
Where the lumbermen have pitched their winter 

camp. 
For I know there'll be a welcome from my brothers 

in the woods, 
Who can sympathize with appetite like mine; 
And there'll be an invitation to partake of royal 

foods. 
And I need not search a menu how to dine. 

Oh, I love to dine with woodsmen in the midst of 

nature's camp. 
Where the tablecloth is far from white and neat, 
And the atmosphere is heavy with the scent of 

smoking lamp. 
And the blazing stove is throwing out its heat. 
And the table that is loaded with the menu all in 

sight, 
Is far from any gourmand's dining plan ; 
But I'm free from hunger bribing and I have the 

toiler's right 
To satisfy the starving inner man. 

76 



My Place in the Shade 



How I love the wholesome flavor of the pork and 

beans and ham, 
And the mountain piled up plates of home-made 

bread, 
And the salty pork and doughnuts and the cabbage 

and the jam, 
And the cornbeef and potatoes royal spread. 
How my appetite is sprinting like a racehorse on 

the run, 
And I do not have to drive it with a whip. 
How I gallop down the homestretch on the leap 

and full of fun. 
And I finish with an easy swinging clip. 

When the evening meal is over how I love to close 
my eyes. 

And to listen to the woodsman speak his mind; 

For the joy of health and labor in the workshop of 
the world, 

Has broken down the caste of all mankind. 

For they talk of God the Workman how he built 
the worlds on high, 

Just to keep his soul from dying in despair. 

How He's always toiled and labored making moun- 
tains, woods and sky. 

And He couldn't cease his working if He dare. 

How the Lord of all creation when He left His shop 

on high. 
So all the folks could look Him in the face. 
Came not with kingly splendor, but descending from 

the sky, 

77 



My Place in the Shade 



With the lowly and the workman took His place. 
How the One who made the systems with their 

everlasting sweep, 
And the suns of blue and red tliat die and rust, 
And the ends of all creation where the outer shadows 

creep, 
Was the Carpenter who worked amid the dust. 

How He preached a simple gospel and foretold the 

social health. 
That the man who eats must earn his daily bread; 
That the castes of social peerage and the parasites of 

wealth, 
Were outlaws to real manhood's royal spread. 
That the right for man's existence and his claim on 

fellow kind, 
Was production by the head or heart or hand. 
That the workman was the purpose that Jehovah 

had in mind, 
When he spoke his first and last and one command. 

That theology and custom and the church who made 
the creeds, 

Has been forcing man how he must worship God, 

How he's chanted many anthems and he's counted 
many beads, 

And he's tried to please Jehovah with a nod. 

That the last word of religion and the first of wor- 
ship's birth 

Was to be a master workman like the Son ; 

That the toiler was the image of the God who made 
the earth. 

And the finest piece of workmanship He's done. 

78 



My Place in the Shade 



Now I'm just a simple scholar and my knowledge is 

but bare, 
Of the schools that seek to solve our social wrongs, 
Where the few control creation and would syndicate 

the air, 
And the multitudes are brutes in slavish throngs. 
But when I hear those workers as they advocate 

work's cause, 
That the world belongs to him alone who toils, 
That they're shaping God's material in accordance 

with His plans; 
Then I think they ought to share God's spoils. 

So I love to think of Heaven as the workshop of the 

Lord, 
Where every man is working at his trade. 
Where he's helping the creator where new worlds 

are being floored, 
And the joy of serving others is the wages that 

he's paid. 
And the workman here on earth who is faithful to 

his task, 
Need not worry what some pious people say. 
For the law of compensation will not wear a hiding 

mask ; 
— ^And without the workmen Heaven wouldn't last 

a day. 



79 



My Place in the Shade 



THREE PICTURES OF MOTHER 

I was looking at my mother sitting in her rocking 

chair, 
When the western sun was shining on her face and 

golden hair, 
Her eyes blued deep and tender, and her cheeks 

glowed like the rose. 
While her brow was like the garden where the 

whitest lily grows. 
Her smile was like the rainbow when the hills are 

bathed in gold, 
Her face looked down upon me with her arms out- 
stretched to fold. 
And as my mother gathered me into her loving arms, 
She was the fairest in the world, the one with 

greatest charms. 

I was looking at her picture hanging on my mem- 
ory's wall ; 
Many years had slipped behind me since she heard 

the Father's call; 
Such wondrous face and beauty, such eyes with 

angel smiles, 
Such a radiant glow of beauty like the sun's long 

afterwhiles, 
Her face, her form, her features had a new, more 

wondrous look, 
I was turning leaves of beauty in an old unopened 

book. 
As I gazed through years of parting, through my 

memory's open door, 
I never knew my mother was so beautiful before. 
80 



My Place in the Shade 



I was looking at my mother through my faith's far 

distant eyes; 
Saw her serving in her beauty in the glow of God's 

sunrise ; 
Such a being of pure beauty, such celestial eyes of 

love, 
Outrivalled stars and sunsets, lighted all the hills 

above. 
Had this Heavenly being while a mortal gave me 

birth? 
Why are human eyes so blinded that they see but 

form and earth ; 
For my mother who was buried in the dark and 

lonesome sod. 
Was the fairest in all Heaven, just as fair as Heav- 
en's God. 



8i 



AJy Place in the Shade 



THE LIGHTHOUSES ON THE PACIFIC 

I have watched the smoking waters surging up 

against your knees, 
From the ice floes of Alaska down south to summer 

seas, 
From every rocky coastline, from every headland 

brow. 
Your lights are warning sailors to steer the seaward 

prow. 
When the breezes of the summer steal soft toward 

the shore, 
When the tempests of the winter tear the ocean to 

its floor, 
When the rocket's trailing pathway signals life- 
guard from the beach, 
Your lights are flashing seaward ; sometimes your 

sirens screech. 

The whaler from the Arctic seas three years away 

from home. 
The old windjammer sailing slow with miners from 

far Nome, 
The modern greyhound swinging swift from Syd- 
ney's tropics far, 
The clipper out of fair Bombay, the bark from 

Southern Star, 
The merchantman with cargo rich deep loaded in 

Rangoon, 
The swarthy crew of Singapores, skin dried by hot 

simoon, 
The lumber ship from Puget Sound, the oiler from 

the south, 

82 



My Place in the Shade 



The salmon smack from fishing beds home bound 
for Columbia's mouth. 

The barkentine from far Hong Kong, and the Yo- 
kohama crew, 

The transports with the doughboys, and the coolies 
from Yoo-Choo, 

The tourists of the Northland south bound for Pe- 
dro's port, 

The man of war, the Coast Guard brig — and ships 
of every sort. 

Are gladdened by the welcome you call across the 
waves. 

And they heed the far-flung signal, close here the 
breaker laves. 

You build the bridges o'er the dark, and lighten seas 
afar, 

And guide the ships across the night to anchor in 
the bar. 



I have watched your friendly greetings where Sitka's 
Isle is bound. 

And where Cape Flattery guards the strait into the 
Puget Sound, 

Where bold North Head is farthest west on guard 
'gainst Columbia's bar, 

And farther south where Tillamook lifts high its 
rocky star. 

And then you light the Golden Gate which opens 
Frisco's Bay, 

And warn the ships from off the cape, from Mendo- 
cino's way, 

83 



My Place in the Shade 



And when you show San Pedro's door in stormy, 
blackest night, 

You follow down the land-locked coast to San Die- 
go's light. 

And so the ships bear cargoes rich from lands in 
every clime, 

And travellers search the hidden ways of lands long 
lost in time, 

And western folks can grasp the hand of Oriental 
man, 

And make the world a neighborhood, God's feder- 
ated plan ; 

And sailors coming home again from journeys long 
and far. 

Will follow you through darkest night like the 
Wisemen and the Star, 

And wives with love light in their eyes, and chil- 
dren on the shore. 

Will bless the light that showed the way to Heaven's 
happy door. 



8» 



My Place in the Shade 



THE CRANIAL THESAURUS 

The judge asked the witness, "Now where were 

you hurt?" 
And the witness replied in this language so pert : 

I was drummed on the dome," and "rammed on 

the bean," 
I was tapped on the conk," and "slammed on my 

scene," 
I was biffed on the bealer," and "whiffed on the 

skull," 
I was bumped on the coco," and "ripped on my 

huU." 

I was cracked on the cranium," and "nailed on the 

nut," 
I was slugged in the belfry," and "bowled on my 

hut," 
I was lammed on my peak," and "knocked on the 

knob," 
I was dinged on the brain box," and "pealed on 

the cob." 

The judge roared at the witness, "What's wrong 
with your head?" 

"I WAS HIT ON THE HEAD, YOUR HON- 
OR," he said. 



85 



My Place in the Shade 



THE SPRINGS OF SWEETNESS 

Back in the heart of the Olympics, 
Where Nature is wild and supreme, 
1 had built my camp in the mountains, 
On the banks of a plunging stream. 
Above me giant towering mountains, 
Were challenging adventurers bold, 
To climb to their summits of glory, 
And conquer their snow and their cold. 

Back in the feverish city, 
Where sympathy's strangled and cold, 
I had broken my body and spirit, 
In the struggle for gain and the gold; 
My brain was consumed with a fire, 
And my mind was beginning to break. 
My body was aching with torture. 
From the long lonely hours awake. 

And so to the mountains I wandered. 

In search for the elixir of health. 

Where the breezes blow soft through the 

valleys. 
And the rivers flow swift with their wealth. 
Where the trees like the towers of legend, 
Are bordering the sky line of blue. 
Where the stars by their nearness will stab 

you, 
And pierce to your soul through and 

through. 

86 



My Place in the Shade 



In the glow of my evening fire, 

When the twilight was painting the hills, 

When my soul with foul fear was despairing, 

And my body was shaking with ills ; 

Out of the dim misty forest, 

And into the light of my camp. 

Came forth an Indian weary, 

And faint from the trail and the tramp. 

I had longed for a voice that was human, 
In those hills where the trails were dim, 
So I gave him the hand of welcome, 
And shared my fire with him. 
And his heart was glad from my greeting, 
And his eyes were misty like rain. 
With a voice that was soft from my kind- 
ness, 
He told me the cure for my pain. 

"Back in the depths of the mountains. 

On the side of a snowy slope, 

A warm gushing stream springs out of the 

earth, 
And bestowing new health and hope." 
"And his tribe for ages and ages 
Had brought to that healing spring, 
Those who were ill and despondent 
And the Spirit had made them sing." 

With the morn's early sun I was off on the 

trail, 
And my soul was singing with cheer, 
For somewhere beyond in the ever snow hills. 
Was the healing from ills and my fear. 

87 



Aly Place in the Shade 



And my feet were treading the light moun- 
tain air, 
When I swung to the valley below, 
Where out of the sides of a steep rocky slope, 
Sprang a stream in the ice and the snow. 

But my heart sank low and my eyes grew 

dim, 
And my soul was swept with despair, 
For the odor was foul like the breath of hell. 
And that foulness was spreading the air. 
It was vomiting forth like a carrion pit. 
Like the filth from some city sewer. 
And I choked w^ith a breath of that thick pu- 
trid air, 
So rancid, so sickenish, impure. 

"Was there healing and hope in that yellow- 
ish stream. 

That sickened the air with its stench?" 

I had come to drink deep of a sweet flowing 
stream. 

And my thirst in pure water to quench. 

Those waters were bitter as wormwood and 
gall, 

"Is there balm in this foul smelling stream?" 

One would strangle and choke if he supped 
but a drop, 

" 'Twas a rainbow and vanishing dream." 

But under the spell of the mountains 

strength 
And under the lure of hope, 
I bent my head to the waters foul, 
88 



Aly Place in the Shade 



And drank from that sickenish slope. 

My eyes opened wide in a wondrous surprise, 

And my hope stood straight on its feet; 

I forgot the stench of that sulphurous stream, 

For the foul smelling waters were sweet. 

Not the sweetness of clover and blossoms in 

May, 
When their honey is luring the bee, 
Not the flavor of fruits with the nectar of 

gods, 
That are sweetened by sun and the sea. 
But the sweetness of sea sweeping strength to 

some soul, 
As one waits on the shore for its breath, 
And conscious of joy in the first touch and 

draught, 
There is balm from despair and from death. 

Then deeply I drank from the ill smelling 

stream. 
For my hope was a good fairy's wand, 
At whose touch the bitter was changed to the 

sweet, 
When down in the slough of despond. 
And my thirst ever grew as I drank full and 

deep. 
And its sweetness increased with the days; 
Till the waters I thought that once must be 

foul. 
Had surpassed all the language of praise. 

And a rich pleasant taste, and a thirst like 
the sea, 

89 



My Place in the Shade 



And a sweetness was filling my mouth, 
And my aches and my pains and my ills and 

fears, 
Went sailing straightway to the south. 
And my blood which was calmed like a ship 

on the sea, 
And waiting for tide or the breeze, 
Was coursing my veins and sailing full speed, 
Like the wind through the tops of the trees. 

And my eyes which had stared with a dead 
haunted look, 

With a dullness and weary despair. 

Shone clear like the depths of a blue moun- 
tain lake, 

When kissed by the sun and the air. 

And my limbs that had dragged like the con- 
vict in chains, 

On the long lowdy trails down below. 

Were climbing the mountains and scaling the 
heights, 

And storming the peaks of snow. 

And so where the waters streamed bitter and 

foul, 
I discovered life's secret and truth ; 
There's sweetness and health in the harsh 

bitter cup. 
And the life of eternity's youth. 
For the IVIaster drank deep of the cruel cup 

of woe. 
And he drained all the dregs of despair; 
But he opened the way to the Father's abode; 
And the road is lonely and bare. 
90 



My Place in the Shade 



FOR FATHER'S BENEFIT 

"Say, ma, was there ever any boy who never told a 

lie"? 
"Who always jumped when he was called, and acted 

spry," 
"Who always had the wood box filled before he 

went to school," 
"Whom teacher never whipped at all, or stood on 

dunce's stool?" 
"Why, yes, your father was that boy." 

"Say, ma, was there ever any boy who'd always 
wash his face," 

"Who always combed his hair so straight, and put 
things in their place," 

"Who never ripped his stockings nor tore his Sun- 
day pants," 

"Who liked to go to Sunday School, and church at 
every chance." 

"Why, yes, your father was that boy." 

"Say, ma, was there ever any boy who'd rather work 

than play," 
"Who always smiled when he was told to put his 

clothes away," 
"Who'd rather wipe the dishes than fish or play 

baseball," 
"Who'd always stay around the house to answer 

every call." 
"Why, yes, your father was that boy." 
91 



My Place in the Shade 



"Say, ma, was there e\'er any boy the preacher's lone 

example," 
"Whom teacher always pointed out as schoolroom's 

shining sample," 
"Who never fought with other bo>s, who always 

said his prayers," 
"Who crept as quiet as a mouse in going up the 

stairs." 
"Yes, I've heard your father say he was." 

"Say, ma, who was the best, the cleanest, tidiest, 

smartest boy you've known," 
"The kind you read in story book, who die before 

they're grown." 
"So quick to learn, so good to all, so very swift to 

mind," 
"That the good Lord never made another of his 

kind." 
"You've heard your father say he was." 

"Say, ma, I'm sorry that my dad grew up to be a 

man," 
"For I'm afraid he's gone astray from the good 

Lord's early plan." 
"He ought to have joined the angels before he was 

grown up," 
"And then he wouldn't have a lad who fights like 

some bull pup." 



92 



My Place in the Shade 



'TIS BETTER TO HAVE DREAMED 

In the twilight glow on the summer hills, 
Where the ghosts of our memories stream, 
Sat two old friends on the orchard gate. 
And talked of their boyhood's dream. 
Since the shadows of age were beginning to fall, 
And their dreams had never come true, 
They opened their souls to the bygone years. 
And told what they'd dreamed to do. 

"I dreamed of the wars and the soldier's career. 

As he fought his way upward to fame, 

As he rode at the head of his legions so bold. 

Through his triumphs with standards aflame; 

I dreamed of a greater than Caesar of Rome, 

And surpassed the renown of Turenne, 

My glory outrivalled Napoleon's fixed star, 

And I conquered Massena in Spain. 

But I never went forth from the farm of my birth. 

And I never saw soldier or camp. 

And the foes that I fought were far from my 

dreams. 
Those I saw in the pine knot lamp. 
My foes were the fires that raged from the hills, 
And attacked like fierce Vandals my farm, 
I've fought the wild wolves through the long 

winter's night. 
And saved wife and babies from harm. 
I've fought the lean locusts that swarmed from the 

south, 
I've fought till I've fallen dead beat. 
93 



My Place in the Shade 



I've fought all in\' life for the things I possess, 

And I never thought once of defeat. 

And so I am glad that I dreamed as a boy 

Of the wonderful battles I'd fight, 

For it's steeled up my heart in my struggle of life, 

In my low humble sphere out of sight." 

"I dreamed of the artist and his magic brush, 

As he colored God's sunsets of earth, 

As he spread on the canvas the portraits of kings, 

Or painted the Master at birth ; 

My pictures would hang on the walls of the rich, 

I would marry an heiress of fame; 

The crowds of great people would throng the Salon, 

And the kings would bow down to my fame. 

But I had to leave school just before I was twelve. 

When mother was left all alone i 

And all that I've painted were far different scenes, 

And the settings were all of my own. 

I've painted the house and the barn and the fence. 

For I thought that one's home should be neat. 

And I've burned up the brush that littered the fields, 

And planted some trees in the street. 

And the woman I married was not of my dreams, 

She was far from an heiress of name. 

But she and the kiddies, our home in the hills 

Makes a picture outlasting all fame. 

And so I rejoice as a boy that I dreamed 

Of the pictures I'd paint on the sky. 

For it's helped me to make of my own little farm, 

A picture that gladdens God's eye." 



94 



My Place in the Shade 



THE CONUNDRUM OF THE AGES 

My mind confronts a riddle, 
Whenever I take note, 
Of the fishing tales of fellows. 
When hard luck got their goat. 

My sleep's upset by anxious doubt. 
Since I have heard the tales, 
About the fish that slipped away, 
"The fellows big as whales." 

I'm in a fearful quandary, 

What can a fellow do, 

When every friend will swear on oath, 

"A monstrous fish slipped through." 

Now who can solve my problem. 
And grant my lifelong wish, 
"Are fishermen all big liars"? 
"Or do only liars fish"? 



THE SOUL OF THE FOREST 

Back in the green clad valleys where the rivers are 
shimmering white, 

Back to the towering mountains, aglow in the dark- 
est night; 

Back to the spreading forest lifting their leafage 
afar. 

Back where deep voices are calling, my spirit ascends 
to its star. 

95 



My Place in the Shade 



There where tlic golden sunsets splash heaven all 
over the sky, 

There where the moon in its glory with the silvery 
clouds float by, 

There wliere the silence is dragging a man down 
hard on his knee, 

There where the trails are lonely, the IVlaster is call- 
ing to me. 

Into mv wear>' spirit will flow the strength of the 

hifls. 
Into my lonely longings will sing the murmuring 

rills, 
Into my heart, faith broken, will flood a new sane 

song. 
Into my spirit despondent will crowd the heavenly 

throng. 

The sweeping strength of the breezes will cool my 

desire for sin. 
The temple bells of the tree tops will bid me to 

enter in. 
The deep blue sky above me will woo my doubts 

away, 
The God tuned voice of Nature will answer my 

"Yea and Nay." 



Forest trails will lead me to the hills kissed by the 

sun, 
Forest trails will soothe me when the toilsome day 

is done, 

96 



My Place in the Shade 



Forest trails will guide me to the depths that know 

no man, 
Forest trails will lead me where I see my soul's 

safe plan. 

I will look through the tree in the forest at the 

stars that blaze so large, 
I will watch the moon above me float down to the 

ocean's marge, 
I will build a golden stairway from the shimmering 

moon kissed sea, 
I will climb that pathway to Heaven, but now I'm 

on my knee. 

Found the maker of heaven, found the maker of sea, 
Found the maker of spirit, found the maker of me, 
Found the maker of yearning, we all go under the 

sod. 
Found the maker that knows me, I have found my 

Father, God. 

God knew that I was tempted by the brute without 

and within, 
God knew that my soul was longing to be free from 

my slavish sin, 
God knew that my brothers were dragging me 

downward into the slime, 
God took my will and desire, His redemption is 

greater than time. 



97 



My Place in the Shade 



THE ETERNAL QUESTION 

Say, pa, I would like to ask you a question plain, 
Didn't the stork drop you in Portland, Maine? 
Now one more question like that my son. 
You'll be off to bed on the double run. 

Say, ma, didn't grandma say she was travelling in 

Spain, 
When the doctor found you on the weathervane? 
Who put such a question in your head? 
You deserve a whipping, be off to bed. 

Say, ma, say, pa, Wasn't I born in Kalamazoo? 
Weren't you folks there when I came through? 
Say, ma, you may tan my hide with your old leather; 
But how did we folks get here together? 



98 



My Place in the Shade 



THE GOSPEL OF FOOD 



Mary and Martha of Bethany town, 
Expected the Lord when He came down, 
From healing the folks in the market square, 
And preaching Good News in the Temple 

there. 
To stay at their house as an honored guest, 
To be free from the crowds that, thronging, 

pressed. 

Mary and Martha of Bethany town. 
Prepared Him a feast and invited folks down. 
To dine with their Lord, and list to his talk, 
As he spoke about folks from this and that 

walk. 
To hear him tell tales in the parable way. 
How the lost could be found in the desert 

astray. 

Mary and Martha of Bethany town, 
Were out in the kitchen with anxious frown, 
And stewing and baking and roasting the meat, 
And preparing the best of good things to eat, 
That the Lord and their guests with a joyful 

heart, 
Might taste their skill in the cooking art. 
99 



My Place in the Shade 



Mary the angel of Bethany town, 

Looked at the dishes all cooked and brown; 

"Enough is prepared for any sane feast," 

" ''1 is a waste of good food to say in the least," 

"The Master has come not merely to eat," 

"I'll just slip in and sit at his feet." 

Martha the cook of Bethany town, 
Went into her Lord with an anxious frown; 
"Mary my sister has proven a shirk," 
"Now bid her return and finish her work," 
"I wanted my Lord to partake of my best," 
"Now she has gone and insulted our Guest." 

Then Jesus the Guest of Bethany town. 
Smiled into Martha's angry frown; 
"Mary has chosen the part which is best," 
"When she slipped in here to sit with the rest," 
"For only a single dish do we need," 
"And too many foods make the glutton's 
creed." 

Then all the guests of Bethany town 
Went forth to their homes with their eyes look- 
ing down, 
And pondering the Master's message of health, 
That folks should dine simple in spite of their 

wealth. 
Thus the gospel of dining, Conserve your Food, 
Was preached by our Lord on his errand of 
Good. 



100 



My Place in the Shade 



THE SURGEON'S DREAM 

By the slowly dying embers of my fireside I thought ; 
Thinking of the surgeon's science and the wonders 

it had wrought, 
Hoping that physician's knowledge, and the doctor's 

art and skill, 
Might eliminate diseases from the human selfish 

will. 
Suddenly before me strangely all the embers flamed 

to light, 
And the fireplace was filling with a weird and won- 
drous sight; 
Then a voice was speaking softly with the wisdom 

of the seer, 
"Behold the coming science and the skill whose birth 

is near." 

There appeared a surgeon's study white as lilies in 
the bloom. 

With a single slab of marble in the middle of the 
room ; 

Standing close in rows around it were some sur- 
geons, knife in hand. 

Eagerly discussing something, some new knowledge, 
vital, grand; 

Tenderly caressing fingers o'er strange instruments 
and saws, 

Joyously anticipating some new truth of nature's 
laws. 

Then I felt the hovering presence of a great dis- 
covery. 

And looked for revelations in some soul's anatomy. 
lOI 



My Place in the Shade 



Straightway then the door was opened, and a 
stretcher came on through, 

Wheeled by nurses clad in whiteness, with their 
patient full in view; 

"Marvellous," I hoarsely muttered, "Is this prehis- 
toric man," 

"Built on strange and huge proportions with gro- 
tesqueness in the plan." 

For a monstrous head of matter like a mountain 
weight of lead. 

Represented all his organs; "Was this mountebank 
all head"? 

And I gutturalled while the surgeons laid him on 
the slab with care, 

" 'Tis some plutocrat of fortune, 'tis some multi- 
millionaire." 

Suddenly I started forward, for a weird misshapen 

lump 
Projected from the forehead sideways like a drome- 
dary's hump; 
And that strange fantastic swelling bulging over his 

left ear, 
Occupied my whole attention; "How could mortal 

grow so queer"? 
For it seemed that all expansion, all extension out 

through space. 
Just had grown in one direction, had located in one 

place. 
Fat and thriving was this hummock like a gourmand, 

groomed, well fed. 
Lean and shrivelled was the balance of this grotesque 

crumpled head. 

1 02 



My Place in the Shade 



Then those surgeons with their scissors, with their 

lances and trepane 
Eagerly prepared to open and investigate this brain. 
First, one drilled a tiny puncture through the flinty 

skull of stone. 
Then, one sawed with calm composure clear around 

the cranial bone. 
Anxiously I watched and waited for those surgeons 

standing there. 
When they lifted up the skull cap to reveal the 

brain all bare. 
Swiftly was the cranium lifted, swiftly drawn the 

leathery skin. 
Fascinated, stood I mutely at the scene that lay 

within. 



In my search for human knowledge I had learned 

this truth sublime; 
When the Lord decreed His image. He then fash- 
ioned man in time; 
Stood him straightway looking skyward, built on 

top a workman's brain. 
Marked it off in true divisions, measured it with 

chart and chain; 
Gave each cell its proper duty, each department 

work to do; 
Each must work in combination, all must help each 

other through; 
Each must not invade its neighbor, must not steal 

its sacred right; 
Each respect divine commandment, each work out 

its sphere of light. 

103 



My Place in the Shade 



One department for enjoyment, love for nature's 

outdoor world, 
Fellowship with sky and ocean, brotherhood where 

stars are swirled. 
One division for true worship with the soul's one 

needful God, 
Demonstrating without logic man is more than com- 
mon clod ; 
Then a section, spending service, like the Galilean 

man. 
Surest wMy to find salvation in accordance with His 

plan; 
Then a lower lobe department where the business 

cell was laid. 
Simple in its first great purpose, food and clothing, 

mutual trade. 

Suddenly my mind was lightened, swiftly then my 

knowledge spread, 
Why this strange lobsided swelling seemed to syn- 
dicate the head ; 
As this brain, exposed, uncovered, stared me with 

a grim grimace, 
Then I knew God's law was broken, something 

strange had taken place; 
There was just one cell in action, just a single 

sphere at work. 
This was overgrown and weighty, but it did not 

stop or shirk ; 
Scarcely sign of all the others in God's masterpiece, 

His best; 
For that greedy cell of business had devoured all 

the rest. 

104 



My Place in the Shade 



Then those surgeons with a calmness, with a con- 
fidence of hand, 

Cut away that monstrous swelling with their science 
in command. 

There before my startled eyesight, there a miracle 
was seen ; 

For the cells that were devoured, that were starving, 
that were lean, 

Grew once more to God's proportions in their right- 
ful chosen place, 

And the mark of beast and demon disappeared from 
off the face. 

Shone again the eyes with beauty, of the purged un- 
selfish will, 

And the moral revolution had been wrought by 
human skill. 

Suddenly my room was chilly, and the fireplace was 

dark ; 
But through my Eastern window a silent golden 

spark ; 
Soon it flooded all the hill tops; soon my room was 

all aglow, 
Disappeared the gloom and the darkness, and a 

whisper came so low: 
"You are not an idle dreamer, you have seen the 

coming skill," 
"When the science of the surgeon should control 

the spirit's will" ; 
"When the gospel of salvation in the forward march 

of time," 
"Will be healing selfish bodies bound in ignorance 

and slime." 

105 



Aly Place in the Shade 



THE WHIPPING OF BILLIE O'BURKE 

Folks still marvel at the story, that is ancient, quaint 

and hoary, 
Of King David and the son of ruddy Saul; 
And the poets sing of Pythias and Damon to this 

day, 
And eulogize their friendship first of all. 
But through my wanderings here and there, I've 

seen nothing to compare, 
To the friendship of O'Burke and Tim McCaul. 

O'Burke was towering muscle, strong as Samson 

in a tussle. 
And he'd never turned his back on friend or foe; 
McCaul was short and stunted like a school boy 

somewhat runted. 
But he had the smiling spirit and the mark he'd 

always toe. 
So McCaul so short and slender formed a friendship 

very tender, 
For O'Burke the mighty bruiser with the punch 

and knock out blow. 

Tim's love was like sole leather, wore well in chang- 
ing weather. 

And he never failed to tag big Bill around ; 

And when the folks would say, "Have you seen 
O'Burke to day"? 

They'd always get the same old common sound; 

"If you've seen big Bill O'Burke loafing 'round or 
at his work" 

"You're pretty sure to see his puppy hound." 
1 06 



My Place in the Shade 



They were trapping mink and otter on the shores 

of Big Lake Potter, 
When they heard that gold was struck on far Cape 

Nome ; 
Said O'Burke to Tim McCaul, ''Sure we'll go and 

make our haul," 
"And when we strike it rich we'll hike for home," 
"For I have a keen desire to be free from work and 

hire," 
"I've got the thing all planned up in my dome." 

The trail was long and weary stretching over moun- 
tains drear}^. 
And the cold was cutting through them to the bone ; 
When they made their camp at night underneath the 

Arctic light, 
O'Burke would shiver, sigh and curse and groan, 
"I wish I was in hell tending furnace for a spell," 
"I'd surely stick my shovel through this freezing 
deadly zone." 

They were staggering down the track when O'Burke 

threw down his pack. 
And he said, "I guess I'll take a little sleep." 
"I'm frozen bone and skin, I guess I'll just cash in," 
"I want to go where fires flame and leap" ; 
"If I have to go to hell for all time or for a spell," 
"I'd rather feed the furnace when my blood is frozen 

deep." 

So O'Burke lay on the ice, and he murmured, "Oh 

how nice," 
"I think I hear the angels coming nigh," 
"I never knew before there was heaven in a snore," 
107 



Aly Place in the Shade 



"I'm soaring up to glory through the sky," 

"Just a solitary wink, please don't ask me now to 

think," 
"I've reached the happy land of bye and bye." 

Now McCauI was no fool guy, when he saw Bill's 

sleepy eye, 
He said, "I guess Bill needs a little inner heat," 
"His fire's rather low, Bill will sure be down be- 
low," 
"By the time I thaw his icy frozen feet." 
"There must be no delay, it's a waste of time to 

pray," 
"I'll appeal to Bill's religious, moral seat." 

Then he raised his heavy boot, poised and aimed and 

let her shoot. 
And landed hard upon Bill's tender shin; 
With an eloquence sublime and with language laid 

in rhyme, 
His burning words would blister any skin: 
"You chicken hearted thief, it will be my life long 

grief," 
"That I ever knew a craven of your kin." 

"To think that Bill O'Burke is a coward and a 

shirk," 
"A quitter and a yellow dog and snake"; 
"I hang my head in shame that my language lacks 

the name," 
"To describe a low down reptile of your make," 
"I thought you had red blood, your veins are filled 

with mud," 
"The devil wouldn't let you near his lake." 
1 08 



My Place in the Shade 



But O'Burke was dead to all, and the language of 

McCaul, 
Didn't seem to reach Bill's morals or his pride. 
''Bill's just about all in, plain language is too thin," 
"His spirit must be frozen stiff inside," 
"I'll make one more appeal, it's the last one I can 

deal," 
"I'll have to try persuasion on Bill's hide." 

Tim grabbed his raw hide strap, swung it 'round 

with vicious slap, 
"Now, Bill, I hope your little sleep is through," 
"For as sure's your name's O'Burke, I intend to 

swing and jerk," 
"And lick the very stuffing out of you." 
"I really hate to do it but duty calls me to it," 
"If I have to tan your carcass black and blue." 

Then McCaul raised on his toe, just to put pep in 

his blow, 
And he landed on Bill's trousers with a crack; 
A score or more came fast like the snort of stormy 

blast, 
And Bill began to squirm upon his back. 
When he felt a dozen more, O'Burke was mad and 

sore. 
And he started after Tim along the track. 

"I'll fill you full of pain, you sawed-off son of Cain," 

"For licking me when I was in the snow," 

"You little dried up toad you will need the funeral 

ode," 
"I'll pay you back a dozen for each blow." 
1 09 



My Place in the Shade 



"You call yourself my friend, yet I felt your blows 

descend," 
"You have whipped me till my legs will hardly go." 

Then IVIcCaul tore down the trail like a convict 

out of jail, 
And O'Burke came thundering after with a yell. 
In the distance was a tree; Said McCaul, " *Twas 

made for me," 
"I guess I'll seek some shelter while I'm well." 
As O'Burke came to a stop, these words began to 

drop. 
And he listened like a fellow in a spell. 

"You think that I ill-used you and with the strap 

abused you," 
"When you were feeling sleepy, cold and blue," 
"You'd have frozen stiff to death, the chill was on 

your breath," 
"Although you thought you'd joined the angel 

crew." 
"You were deaf to moral teaching, couldn't touch 

you with my preaching," 
"So I did the only other thing I knew." 

"Now let me prove to you that my words are 

straight and true," 
"I can see your blood is heaving like the tide," 
"A little while ago you were freezing in the snow," 
"Now you have a furnace in your hide." 
"Why aren't you frozen stiff, buried deep in that 

snow cliff," 
"My blows have kindled fires hot inside." 
no 



My Place in the Shade 



Then O'Burke roared out in glee like a man whose 

soul is free, 
"Come down, you little son of pluck and grit," 
"I want to shake your hand, you child of nerve and 

sand," 
"For licking me when I had dropped and quit;" 
"You've taught big Bill O'Burke he's a coward and 

a shirk," 
"And a whipping has some healing in her kit." 

Now my simple story's ended, but there's a moral 

to it blended. 
And I'll have to tag a sermon to this tale; 
"We often drop and quit, throw away our irksome 

kit," 
"And leave our hopeless lives on failure's trail ;" 
"God whips us with misfortune till his pardon we 

importune," 
"And we bless him for the stinging, scourging flail." 



Ill 



My Place in the Shade 



THE CALL OF THE WESTERN SEAS 

"Ihc winds are sweeping shoreward from off the 

western sea, 
And their voices loud are calling, "Come back. Come 

back to me"; 
For my heart still loves the ocean, and all that I can 

hear. 
Is the whisper of its voices, "Sweetheart, are you 

near"? 
"Can't you hear my tide upon my beach"? 
"Can't you hear my saucy sea gulls screech"? 
"Can't you hear my billows w^ooing you"? 
"Can't you hear my song up in the blue"? 
But I can't hear nothing else but these, 
And my heart is choking full for my sweetheart of 

the seas. 

Now the ocean speaks a message, "Don't you still 
remember me? 

When you swam upon my bosom and watched the 
ships at sea; 

When you breasted breaking billows or splashed 
through flooding tide, 

When your heart was in my keeping and you slum- 
bered at my side." 

"Can't you see my whale a-spouting on its leap"? 

"Can't you see my schooners tacking to the deep"? 

"Can't you see my mountains as you look the other 
way"? 

"Can't you see my rivers where the rainbow fishes 
play"? 

112 



My Place in the Shade 



And I can't see nothing else before my tear-filled 
eyes, 

But the heaving, bounding ocean smiling up at sum- 
mer skies. 

And the scent of western blossoms float out upon 
the waves, 

Like the perfume of the fairies scattered from the 
island caves, 

And they fill my homesick spirit like a valley blos- 
som blessed. 

And I can't smell nothing else but the flowers of the 
west. 

"Can't you smell my rhododendron off the Puget 
Sound"? 

"Can't you smell my roses where Columbia's waters 
pound"? 

"Can't you smell my blossoms where the oranges 
play with palm"? 

"Can't you smell the fair chrysanthemum, scatter- 
ing beauty's aim"? 

And I can't smell nothing else but these, 

And I'm sailing once again through the perfumes of 
my seas. 

So I'm going to my ocean, to my mother's waiting 

arms. 
To its welcome and its vastness, to its mystery and 

charms ; 
Its billows sweeping seaward and kissing unseen 

lands. 
Will soothe me like a blessing from my mother's 

loving hands. 

113 



My Place in the Shade 



I have always loved the ocean as a symbol of God's 

strength, 
I have loved it in its tempest, in its sunshine and its 

length ; 
And its distant, far horizon meeting Heaven, God 

and sky, 
Is the promise of the future when I lay me down to 

die. 
If you have ever loved the ocean, you have found 

the Heart of love, 
And you'll sail the seas of glory in the Kingdom 

up above. 



114 



My Place in the Shade 



THE COUNTRY CHURCH OF MY 
BOYHOOD 

The country church of my boyhood; through the 

years It comes again, 
When my mother's hand would lead me down our 

shady, country lane, 
To the little plain frame building with its spire 

stretching high. 
As if reaching for a blessing from the Father in the 

sky. 
The folks were just a country people, struggling 

hard, of common ranks. 
But they remembered all their mercies, never failed 

to render thanks. 
And that simple furnished structure was filled with 

holy hush. 
When the Spirit sent the healing for the cares that 

bruise and crush. 

The preacher of my boyhood; through the years 

I see his face, 
Standing up behind his pulpit, preaching God's 

eternal grace. 
His speech was plain and simple, and his folks 

could understand, 
Of the joys of love and service in the Master's 

working band. 
He could not read the Hebrew, and he never quoted 

Greek, 
He lived his Master's gospel with his people through 

the week; 
And when the Sabbath Day had come he had a 

fitting text, 

115 



My Place in the Shade 



And his church was always crowded with the wor- 
ried and perplexed. 

The choir of my boyhood; how they sang the old 

time praise, 
Till they swept you up to glory, and you walked 

the hcaxenly wa}s ; 
And the anthem, and the chorus, you could under- 
stand each word. 
For they sang with nature's voices, in the way meant 

by our Lord ; 
And when our congregation and our choir sang it 

out. 
The angels up in heaven answered back with mighty 

shout ; 
Those grand old hymns just carried one clear up 

the golden stairs. 
And sat you down beside the Throne, and blotted 

out your cares. 

The modern church of my manhood ; how I wish 

that we were back. 
To the simple faith of childhood, for our worship's 

off the track. 
I'm tired of that choir with the salaried quartette, 
For it cannot lift me higher than the gallery's par- 

quette. 
And I'm yearning for the singing with the good 

old fashioned tune, 
That was sung in simple sweetness, and brought the 

Spirit's boon. 
And I'm thinking if our worship would return to 

simple ways. 
That our churches would be crowded, and we'd hear 

the songs of praise. 

ii6 



My Place in the Shade 



THE FABLED FISHERMAN 

As I watched from the crags the long sweeping 

swells, 
Where the ocean was breaking like loud sounding 

bells, 
And the surf swelled the chasms and deep dwelling 

cells, 
And was splashing sheer up on the bluff, 
I saw through the mists stretching out from North 

Cape, 
A heaved mass of boulders, outlined as an ape. 
And distinct with the form of a fisherman's shape, 
Huge, sea worn, rugged and rough. 

And it seemed as some Cyclops of time long ago, 
Had been casting his line to the ocean below. 
And fishing for whales in the tides overflow, 
With a rod that was long like a tree. 
When some fairies' wand reached out from the land. 
And touched him to stone at the word of command. 
And alone he had stood through the tide and the 

sand. 
And had gazed like a guard o'er the sea. 

As I pondered the strangeness of this mammoth 

form, 
And pictured the scenes of the wreck and the storm, 
This figure could tell if its lips were but warm. 
An Indian dropped at my side. 
As he saw I was watching that image in stone — 
— That fisherman carved on the rocks' lasting 

throne^ — 

117 



My Place in the Shade 



He told me the tale that the tribal folk own, 
Why this statue of stone guards the tide. 

On this shore dwelt his tribe when the world was 

young, 
When each man spoke with a brother's tongue. 
And the virtues of others were the songs they sung. 
And the law for all was the common good. 
Here the salmon swarmed where the tide was deep. 
Up the Taho stream where the waters leap. 
And schooled and spawned where the shadows creep, 
And this was their daily food. 

When a chieftain came of wondrous size, 

Thinking his strength made him great and wise; 

With contempt and a sneer he cast his eyes, 

On Nature's old time plan. 

Would he spend his strength at a waterfall. 

Where the salmon leap at Nature's call, 

He would catch those fish from a high sea wall, 

Nature would bow to man. 

Afar in the forest a fir tree stood, 

Lifting its head with its royal hood, 

Highest of all as the monarch should, 

And its roots sank deep in the sod. 

Up from the ground he tore it free, 

Stripped down the branches, the bark from the 

tree. 
And shouldered it down to the shore of the sea. 
And this w^as his fishing rod. 

In the mountain caves he hunted the bear, 
And chased the cougar swift home to its lair, 
ii8 



Aly Place in the Shade 



He counted the victims with thoughtful care, 
Till the hides were ninety and nine. 
Then he stripped the hides with a skilful hand, 
And tanned them strong on the warm sea sand. 
Then braided them stout in a single strand. 
And this was his fishing line. 

Far off in the wilds where might is law, 

A grizzly bear in its strength he saw; 

So he sharpened the skull and the skeleton jaw, 

And this was his fishing hook. 

And floating around in a deep sea cave. 

Borne in by the tide and the high sea wave, 

A huge sea lion here found its grave. 

And this was the bait for his hook. 

High on the crags on a rough hewn stone, 
This fisherman's line to the sea was thrown. 
And the waters tossed as when winds are blown. 
And the sea was stirred by his bait. 
And he spoke with the words of confidence bold, 
"My wisdom for ages will now be told," 
"My fame will live till the world is old," 
"Sheer strength has opened the gate." 

When the sun went down he was fisl^ng away, 
And all through the night and the cold and the 

spray. 
Till the sun came forth at the break of day. 
But he fished and he fished in vain. 
But his pride was strong in his youthful conceit, 
He'd conquer stern nature's cold and heat. 
His pride would never confess defeat. 
Soon all would follow his train. 
119 



My Place in the Shade 



This fisherman fished through every day, 
Determined to change the tribal way, 
Contrary to nature's law and play, 
llien nature demanded her own. 
The tide splashed on with its ebb and flow, 
'^I'he rain beat down with the hammer blow, 
Nature was working sure and slow, 
That fisherman turned to stone. 

Ages and ages have passed and flown. 

Since the fisherman turned to the statue of stone. 

Where he sought for progress in strength alone ; 

Soon a curse fell on the tribe. 

The salmon shunned the river's mouth. 

And hunger came with the famine's drouth. 

And the tribe was scattered to North and South, 

And the spirit refused a bribe. 

And I thought when the Indian had finished his tale. 
Of innumerable folks who in search for their whale. 
Had been turning to stone and were blocking the 

trail. 
And had silently stood for years. 
This legend contains some sound common sense, 
And history has taught by its saddest events, 
That the truth of this tale is plain evidence, 
"There is little virtue in tears." 



I20 



My Place in the Shade 



THROUGH THE STORM 

Twenty years of silence since I heard my last fond 

word, 
Deaf to loved ones' voices and the song of stream 

and bird. 
But last night while the darkness was rocked by 

storm's alarm, 
I heard my mother calling from the doorway of the 

farm. 
"O, laddie dear, your mother's calling you," 
"It's nearly time for supper, and you have the 

chores to do," 
"Go call the cows, my laddie, it's getting very late," 
*T11 be waiting for you beside the meadow gate." 

The weary years just dropped away, again I was a 

boy, 
And playing in the orchard where the trees bloomed 

forth with joy; 
It was twilight, and the evening songs were soaring 

to the sky. 
When the birdlike voice of mother came clear, and 

sweet and high; 
"Ho, laddie dear, it's bedtime, just about," 
"You've played so hard since supper, you must be 

tired out," 
"So hurry up, my laddie, so I can hear your 

prayers," 
"I'll be waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs." 
121 



My Place in the Shade 



And then another scene came clear, tlie one I can't 

forget, 
Although 'tis sixty years ago, my cheeks with tears 

are wet; 
'Tis the bedside of my mother as she said farewell to 

me, 
And t(X)k her lonely journey across the silent sea. 
"Now good bye, laddie dear, I'm going home up 

yonder," 
"I grieve to leave my laddie here, the lonesome years 

to wander," 
**But dry your tears, my laddie, now don't cry any 

more," 
"I'll be waiting, watching for you up yonder from 

the shore." 

Perhaps 'twas mother calling me from out the un- 
seen land. 
And whispering 'cross the silent sea, "Ho, laddie, 

here's my hand." 
And so I wait with happiness my heaven's one great 

joy, 
When mother's voice again shall speak as when I 

was a boy; 
"Hello, my laddie dear, you haven't changed at all," 
"You look my blessed boy again as when I used to 

call," 
"Come, laddie dear, and take my hand, as in our 

earthly days," 
"And walk with me through fields, o'er hills, in 

woods and God's long ways." 



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My Place in the Shade 



IT TAKES A HEAP OF RUBBIN' TO 
MAKE IT SHINE 

Once I saw a mass of granite, quarried from the 
solid rock, 

A rough hewn slab of marble, just a heavy dull faced 
block ; 

Not a sign of beauty in it, ragged, rough, un- 
shapely stone, 

Edges sharp, surface broken, with a commonness its 
own. 

Then I saw the master mason peering closely at its 
face. 

Had it hidden lines of beauty? Would it ever tem- 
ple grace? 

Then the master mason whispered, "Beauty lurks in 
every line," 

**But it'll take a heap of rubbin' to make you shine." 

Now life is full of people whose sympathies are 

blind, 
Who are dead to fellow feeling, always doubting 

human kind; 
Never feel a tinge of sorrow when some brother goes 

astray. 
Always hold folks to the letter, always make them 

pay, 
I guess there's human sweetness and there's sympathy 

inside. 
But it takes a heap of sorrow to melt their stubborn 

pride ; 

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My Place in the Shade 



And by the time they're human and have fallen in 

God's line, 
It took a heap of rubbin' to make them shine. 

Now most of folks have wisdom; but they simply 
will not learn ; 

Will not listen to your counsel, your best advice 
they'll spurn ; 

"Go away and mind your business," "Guess I know 
the way," 

"If 1 dance to fiddling music, guess that I can pay." 

But they always learn some wisdom through the 
hard knocks of the years, 

Tumbled into many pitfalls, wiped away the scald- 
ing tears. 

But by the time they've learned a few things, the 
Lord hangs out his sign. 

For it took a heap of rubbin' to make them shine. 

I've heard folks say an angel lives in their house 

of clay. 
But their selfish hateful natures drive that smiling 

face away. 
I hope that folks are better than their house of flesh 

and bone, 
And every blessed mortal has some beauty of his 

own; 
I know the Master Mason will have a heavy task. 
To make a smiling spirit from our coarse and stony 

mask. 
And if some folks should get to heaven, and the Lord 

should say, "You're mine," 
"It'll take a mighty heap of rubbin' to make them 

shine." 

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My Place in the Shade 



PLENTY OF TIME 

Farmer Jones strode through his farm, 

Where the gate hung loose in his field of corn ; 

'Til guess tonight will do no harm," 

'Til fasten it close in the early morn." 

Farmer Jones went home to pray; 

But his cows were dead in the corn next day. 

Farmer Jones drove out to town. 
And found his friend was down and ill; 
"I must drop in next time Fm down," 
"And lend a hand to dear old Bill." 
Farmer Jones prayed loud that night; 
Bill died alone in the early light. 

Farmer Jones said to his boy, 

"You've never seen a circus clown," 

"To-morrow night you'll have that joy," 

"We'll hitch up Nell and drive to town." 

Farmer Jones was sleeping sound, 

When the angels came and the lad they found. 

Farmer Jones was taking stock; 
"I really must insure my life." 
"To-morrow morn at ten o'clock," 
"A policy ril give my wife." 
Farmer Jones left earth so swift. 
That the mortgage stuck for his wife to lift. 
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My Place in the Shade 



Farmer Jones stopped near the gate, 
And watched St. Peter pass folks through ; 
"I'll just stand here a while and wait," 
"To-morrow morn I guess will do." 
Just then St. Peter slammed the door, 
"All aboard for the lower floor." 



126 



My Place in the Shade 



A CONTRAST 

As wandering down a winding country lane, 

Close by to where the village teacher taught his 

train ; 
Two ancient apple trees stood forth in nature's 

pride, 
And something in that scene drew me to turn aside. 
They were so much alike, that passing eye 
Could scarce distinguish them close by ; 
Alike in girth and height and shape and size, 
7^heir branches spread the sameness to the skies. 
'Twas springtime, and the blossoms royal spread, 
Bedecked them both alike, in white and red. 
I said, "I will return when summer suns are mute," 
"For these full flowering trees must bear fine fla- 
vored fruit." 

'Twas autumn, and again along that pleasant lane 
I came; 

I rubbed my startled eyes, were those two trees the 
same? 

Around one tree a scene of desolation spread. 

And seemed as if some storm had stripped it, dead; 

Upon the grassless ground lay branches, broken, 
bent, 

Dead drifting leaves, and cans with bruise and dent. 

And apple cores bleached bare, and dried and wither- 
ing bones. 

Long poles and bottles, slates, old shoes and stones, 

The bark had bled from wounds, the boughs were 
lean and bare. 

Above, the branches lay in ruin layer on layer; 
127 



My Place in the Shade 



While lodging In the limbs, and caught by crooked 

gad, 
Were all the implements of warfare of the lad. 
And as I marvelled at the chaos and the ruin all 

around, 
I saw no sign of apple in the tree or on the ground. 

Beside this scene of war, in perfect graceful pose, 

The other tree, all pleasing to the eye, and gorgeous 
as the rose. 

No spoiler's ruthless hand, no weapon of the foe. 

Had left their devastation and their trail of woe; 

No army camp's debris, no storm's disastrous wake, 

Had littered up the earth, no sign of some earth- 
quake. 

The branches, undisturbed, stood still in nature's 
poise. 

And knew that perfect rest which sleep enjoys. 

But to my wild surprise each bough was full and 
deep, 

With handsome looking apples, heap on heap. 

I clutched with hands of eagerness a hanging bough 
in reach, 

In fancy sipped the queen of taste, the flavor of the 
peach. 

But when my lips drew forth the juice beneath that 
gorgeous mien, 

I learned a lasting lesson from that strange con- 
trasted scene. 

The folks whose souls are sweetened by the woes 

of human kind. 
Who are lifting up the fallen, giving sight unto the 

blind, 

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My Place in the Shade 



Will be wounded, stripped and beaten, thrown aside 

and left to bleed. 
And they'll understand the feeling when their Lord 

was left in need. 
But the folks whose souls are bitter with the gall of 

self and pride, 
Who adorn their outward figure, letting hatred rule 

inside, 
Will be left to pose in grandeur, with a loftiness 

their own, 
For the world cannot be blinded by external dress 

alone. 



129 



My Place in the Shade 



SNOW FLOWERS 

For many years I had idly thought, 
That the only place for the flower plot, 
Was where the ground lay warm and soft, 
And summer winds waved sun aloft. 

One day the mountains called me loud, 
To where their summits pierced the cloud, 
Where high above the foothills' glow, 
Their peaks stood forth in green and snow ; 

When voice of mountains call to me, 
Or high hills whisper, I must flee. 
For when those spirits through me steal. 
They have a secret to reveal. 

I was off in the morn at the sun's first knock, 
With my old kit sack and my alpenstock. 
And hit the trail with a heart full light. 
For I'd sleep on the mountain's breast that 
night. 

I was scaling the brow of Cr>'stal Ridge, 
Which narrow^ed up like a swinging bridge. 
When down on the slope of the mountain's rise, 
A scene spread forth on my wondering eyes. 

A snow bank, long, and deep and wide, 
Was covering all that sloping side. 
And on that glistening snowy bed. 
Great plots of flowers in beauty spread. 
130 



My Place in the Shade 



I'd heard of Alpine lilies' glow, 

Where Switzerland spreads out her snow ; 

But I had never understood, 

Hpw flowers bloomed 'neath winter's hood. 

But here where winds of winter blew, 

The fairest flowers of nature grew. 
Lilies glowed like ivory white, 
When alabaster greets moonlight. 

The shade of crimson on those snows. 
Was deeper than the blood red rose, 
The saffron shade and topaz hue. 
Was clear like amber through and through. 

The lilac's hue and lavender's smile 
Outrivalled skies where glories pile. 
That burst of color midst snowy rills 
Was fairer than the rainbow hills. 

And so I saw midst ice and snow, 
God's flowers bloom where cold winds blow; 
Such shades and colors, Nature's wiles. 
Could not be grown where summer smiles. 

God's folks thrive best where winter blows, 
And hearts grow warm in chilly snows, 
The strongest folks in all His world, 
Drank in their strength where storms are 
whirled. 



131 



My Place in the Shade 



FISHERMAN'S LUCK 

I've never believed in the fisherman's luck; 

Nor the chance of the chase in hunting the duck; 

Fish always come to the angler's art, 

When he plays the game by head and by heart. 

I was casting for trout in the Boulder Creek, 
Which tumbles down from an Olympic peak; 
When over the ripples a giant trout splashed, 
Then into a pool by the boulder dashed. 

And there on the pebbles lay so still. 
Inviting my challenge to test my skill. 
A "Dolly Varden," I cast smooth and spry, 
But he wickedly winked his watery eye. 

A "Royal Chinook" I hurled for his leap; 
But he didn't consider that fare worth a peep ; 
From the bright "Silversides" to the sombre "Blue- 

gill," 
He turned up his nose, and laughed at my skill. 

Then I opened my can of fresh salmon eggs. 
Shoved two on my hook, and cast for his "Megs," 
But never a rise to that new^ bill of fare, 
The "Rainbow" slept on with a cold icy stare. 

Then I grabbed for my bait of canned salmon eggs, 
A lure I was told for which any fish begs. 
But the sporty old king of that mountain stream, 
Would not be coaxed from his sleep and his dream. 
132 



My Place in the Shade 



I wanted that fish, so I dug for rock worms, 

And harpooned them on wfth their wiggles and 

squirms ; 
But I cast, and I played, and I reeled all in vain, 
That fellow lay still as though he were slain. 

There must be a way to land that old trout ; 
A fish never swam that you couldn't pull out. 
If the right kind of bait was fixed to your hook. 
If your patience was steady, if your faith never 
shook. 

On a log at my side was a slimy snail-slug. 
With his face twisted up like some ugly pug; 
And it flashed on my mind that here was the lure, 
That would land the old fellow with ease swift and 
sure. 

The end of my tale may now be told, 
I've shortened it up your attention to hold; 
A flash of color through the spray, 
A speckled beauty brought to bay. 

A royal bout by the waters churned, 
A life long lesson from it learned ; 
"There is no luck in your father's name," 
"You'll land your fish if you stay in the game." 



133 



My Place in the Shade 



THE BATTLEFIELDS OF FRANCE 

Last night there stole a vision across my restless 
slumber. 

I saw the allied hosts of peace press on in countless 
number. 

They waded deep the human blood that streamed 
from bleeding P'rance; 

Their bodies raised up human walls across the foe's 
advance. 

I saw the fields of gallant France lie shorn like desert 
blight 

The glory of her summer hills was wrapt in star- 
less night; 

I heard the wail of widows as they prayed with tear- 
less eyes, 

And the cries of little children touched hearts be- 
yond the skies. 

Then I heard a voice of thunder and I saw Truth's 
flaming sword, 

And the sky was filled with singing like the coming 
of our Lord 

Victory is coming, Victory is nigh, 

Victory is rising upon the morning sky, 

The night of man's oppression forever has passed 

Victory is coming, Truth's sun will soon be high. 

Then I saw the hosts of freedom as they streamed 

from western seas. 
Go marching forward with their flags unfurled upon 

the breeze. 

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My Place in the Shade 



No human foes could stem that march as freedom led 

the way, 
The armies fierce of hell itself could not its progress 

stay. 
The sons of freedom woke to song and fought like 

hosts of glory, 
They wrote upon the fields of France the world's one 

deathless story. 
Then I heard a mighty tumult of hosannas rising 

high, 
And a multitude of voices sounded forth along the 

sky. 
Victory is coming, Victory is nigh, 
Victory is rising upon the morning sky. 
The night of man's oppression forever has passed by, 
Victory is coming, Truth's sun will soon be high. 

And then that vision passed away and clear before 

my eyes, 
I saw again the fields of France bloom fair as glory's 

skies. 
No fear of rape upon her homes, no foe upon her 

plain. 
No need of guns upon her hills, no need of soldier 

slain ; 
The smile of peace was on her brow, I heard the 

children play, 
It was the new born land of France, forever free 

to stay. 
And then the scene was lifted high, and over all the 

world 
I saw one flag of brotherhood in sovereign peace un- 
furled. 

135 



My Place in the Shade 



Then my heart was ghid with music and my soul 

was filled with song, 
Our hlood stained earth had passed away, it was 

God's chosen throng. 
Victory is coming, Victory is nigh, 
Victory has risen upon the morning sky, 
The night of man's oppression forever has passed by, 
Victory has come. Truth's sun is midday high. 



136 



My Place in the Shade 



NOT IN th;e book 

I was bored to death by the gown groomed god, 
Which I heard in the family pew; 
And my soul was sore from the parson's rod, 
As he whipped his theology through. 

I sought for a faith that was free from the Book, 

Though the Book be good and wise, 

And yearned for the soaring skyward look ; 

Find God in the stars and skies. 

So I left the cradle of custom and church, 
Where creed and convention were slaves; 
Through valleys and mountains I followed the 

search. 
Till I camped on the glacier waves. 

The valleys were filled with a silence and yet God's 

language was loud ; 
The message came sweeping from heaven, through 

systems and stars and the cloud; 
The winds sped up with that message, and spoke it 

soft to my soul. 
My spirit knew He was speaking, I knew I was part 

of His whole. 

As the shadows crept forth from the valleys below, 

and the fire glowed low in my camp, 
I lifted my eyes to the summits of stars coming forth 

with their evening lamp. 
The moon like a prince from the Kingdom of Light 

swept forth to the hills of God 
And built a white path from my little camp glow 

clear up to where sin is outlawed ; 
137 



My Place in the Shade 



Like the spires of God were the snow clad peaks as 
they shone in the great white way, 

Like the stepping; stones across the seas to the king- 
dom of endless day. 

Far over these heights I roamed my eyes till they 

came where the stars sailed high, 
And I followed the path of the Milky Way till I 

came to the topmost sky ; 
Above the flare of the last lone star shone the God 

with the Father's face ; 
Who opened His hand from the top of His throne 

and scattered the suns through space; 
And the infinite space was ablaze with the worlds in 

purple and gold and blue; 
And a trillion stars in the train of God to the call of 

faith marched through. 

Then the infinite face of sky and star, 

And the hosts of suns flung out afar, 

Swept forth on their paths of heavenly light, 

And focussed themselves on my human sight. 

They swept through my eye, and engraved on my 

brain, 
A miniature world of that far flung train. 

And there on a patch of the human flesh w^as a fac- 
simile of God and His sky, 

Where Orian marched, and the North Star glowed, 
and the hosts of the Lord passed by. 

And then the god of the parson's speech, and the 
god of the printed book, 

Was lost in the God of the starry sky when my 
faith went up to look. 

138 



My Place in the Shade 



THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSE 

Two sweethearts gazed with wonder up into the 

summer sky, 
And watched the stars in the Milky Way shine love 

in the heavens high ; 
"I've heard that the stars are numberless," the 

maiden whispered low, 
"Yet where is the heart of all these worlds? Who 

makes the heavens glow?" 
The youth replied with starlit eyes as he drew his 

sweetheart near, 
"Why, haven't you heard, my darling, that the heart 

of the worlds is here." 

"The heart of all the universe lies in your eyes deep 

blue," 
"Its law of gravitation is your heart that beats so 

true" ; 
"Your golden locks are comets that stream the starry 

sky," 
"The ravs from all the starlit worlds center in your 

eye." 

Their universe has larger grown ; thus dearer drawn 

love's ties, 
Because they saw the whole wide world shine in 

each other's eyes ; 
The folks and the worlds are numberless, but God 

has eternal love. 
Which makes for every man and lass their universe 

above. 

139 



My Place in the Shade 



And this big world will always give love's best and 

dearest prize 
To youths and lassies, sweethearts true, whose 

worlds shine in their eyes. 
The center of the universe swings 'round the human 

heart ; 
No need of telescope or brain to scan high heaven's 

chart; 
When folks have found their greatest joy in giving 

out their love. 
They've found the heart of everything, God, earth, 

and life above. 



THE SPICE OF LIFE 

Suppose all fish that nibbled bait, 

Were landed at our feet; 

Suppose they swarmed in columns eight, 

Right past our grassy seat; 

Then Izaak's art w^ould lose its bliss. 

For the fishing sport is catch and miss. 

The mountain streams we wade all day. 

The trout will never rise; 

We cast and reel where eddies play, 

Our patience never dies ; 

The angler's sport is tang with spice, 

Because uncertain like the dice. 

Suppose all birds that crossed our track, 
Should tumble at our pull; 
140 



My Place in the Shade 



Suppose our gun should always crack, 

Our game bag always full; 

Then Nimrod's chase would grow dead 

stale, 
For the huntsman's sport is hit and fail. 

And so we tramp the forest trail. 
Without a shot in sight ; 
We climb steep mountains, plunge the dale, 
Until the darkening night; 
Then homeward wend with game bag 
poor. 

For the chase is ofttimes just a lure. 

♦ 
Suppose we always found our quest, 
And never met defeat, 
Then life would be a dreary guest. 
Without a joy to greet; 
God tempers souls with failures, strife; 
This is the zest, the spice of life. 



HE THAT MAKETH GOD A LIAR 

The coffin lay buried in flowers 
The baby was shrouded in bowers, 
The mourners sad-hearted, 
From little one parted. 
Were wailing their grief through the 
hours. 

The parson on meekness was teaching, 
On the mysteries of God he was preach- 
ing; 

141 



My Place in the Shade 



"We must bow to His will," 

"In His judgments be still," 

"As we stand in His wisdom far-reaching." 

A nurse in the home was commenting, 

Her faith and her reason assenting; 

"He makes God a lie," 

"This babe did not die," 

She was murdered by System consenting. 

The cathedral was wailing and weeping, 
As the bier up the aisle moved so creep- 
ing; 
A man of great name, • 
Of illustrious fame, 
Had died while his wassails were keeping. 

The bishop in mitre and robe, 
Was expounding the logic of Job. 
"Dark mystery surrounds us," 
"God's will oft confounds us," 
"Our brother is called from his globe." 

A doctor was hearing the discoursing, 

Knowing much about evil concoursing. 

"He makes God a fool" 

"To theolog}^'s tool." 

"This is Nature her laws enforcing." 



142 



My Place in the Shade 



HAVENS 

Like a ship on the sea that through billows must 

sail, 
Where the waves run in mountains and fierce is the 

gale,^ 
And far is the haven, and dim is the light. 
And the eye cannot see through the gloom of the 

night. 

So the soul o'er the sea of life's tempest must sail, 
Where the faith is sea-tossed and the fondest hopes 

fail, 
And the sorrows roll high in their furious sweep, 
And the soul seems to sink to the wrecks in the deep. 

Like a ship on the sea sailing out from the storm. 
From the stress of the gales and the night's ghastly- 
form, 
And downing the sails in the deep quiet bay. 
Where she floats in the sun and the calm of the 
day. 

Like a ship on the sea that has breasted the gale, 
And dropping her anchor and furling her sail ; 
So our hopes shall sail in to the Harbor of Life; 
Our Faith and the Pilot has weathered the strife. 



143 



My Place in the Shade 



THE FOLKS AT HOME 

When through some lonely city street, 
For months and years we've gone our way, 
When some remembered face we greet; 
"How are the folks at home?" we say. 

"How are the folks?" our eager cry; 
"The folks are well, they speak of you," 
"With thoughtful care, with softening eye, 
"They send their love, they miss you too." 

We go our way in the crowding throng, 
Our hearts are light with gladsome glee. 
Our steps are dancing to the song, 
"The Folks at Home Remember Me." 



144 



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